New Delhi, Feb 22 (IANS) The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) Thursday gave the go-ahead for acquisition of 109 customs marine vessels at of Rs.3.58 billion (about $90 million).

The cost would include procurement of spare parts of the vessels and their annual maintenance cost for the next five years, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said after the CCEA meeting headed by Prime Minister Manomhan Singh.

"The acquisition of marine vessels will assist the customs department in the discharge of its statutory function," Chidambaram said.

The vessels would help the customs in preventing and detecting movement across the country's sea borders of contraband goods including arms, ammunition, explosives and narcotic drugs, the minister added.