MUMBAI: In one of the biggest maritime anti-narcotics operations in recent times, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) have seized drugs worth over ₹3,000 crore from an Iranian boat in the Arabian Sea and detained five Pakistani nationals.
The operation was carried out on September 25 near Lakshadweep following intelligence inputs about the movement of a suspicious vessel, the Coast Guard said.
Coast Guard personnel maintained surveillance through both maritime and aerial assets before tracking the boat and intercepting it west of Lakshadweep. A search of the vessel led to the recovery of a large quantity of narcotics, including high-grade methamphetamine and heroin.
The boat, along with the five Pakistani nationals on board and the seized contraband, was brought to Mumbai under armed security. A joint interrogation by the concerned agencies is expected to establish the source of the drugs, their intended destination and possible links to an international narcotics network.
The Gujarat ATS also confirmed the detention of the five Pakistani nationals and said it had assisted the Coast Guard in the operation.
The seizure comes amid intensified efforts by Indian security agencies to curb international drug trafficking through maritime routes. Officials said the operation demonstrated the surveillance and interception capabilities of security agencies in India’s maritime domain.
According to the Coast Guard, the seizure is expected to disrupt the financial networks supporting international drug trafficking and prevent synthetic narcotics from reaching the Indian mainland.
