The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) have achieved a major success against an international drug trafficking syndicate in international waters. In a joint operation conducted in the deep waters of the Arabian Sea, west of Lakshadweep, the security forces seized approximately 526 kg of high-quality heroin and methamphetamine from a foreign vessel. The value of these banned drugs in the international market is estimated to be over ₹3,000 crore.
Based on secret intelligence, the Coast Guard maintained constant surveillance from both sea and air. On September 25, they spotted a suspicious Iranian boat in the Arabian Sea and gave chase. The security team intercepted the vessel and, upon searching, seized 526 kg of banned narcotics and detained five Pakistani nationals who were on board.
The Chief Public Relations Officer of the Indian Coast Guard stated, “Following confirmed intelligence, the Indian Coast Guard conducted precise sea and air surveillance and intercepted a suspicious Iranian boat on September 25. In this joint operation with Gujarat ATS, drugs worth approximately ₹3,000 crore have been recovered.”
The five detained Pakistani nationals and the seized boat have already been brought to Mumbai under tight security. The Coast Guard informed that several central investigative agencies will jointly interrogate the Pakistani nationals to dismantle the financial network of the international drug syndicate.
