The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has made what is believed to be its largest drug seizure to date, capturing about five tonnes of illegal drugs from a fishing boat in the Andaman waters.
Defence officials confirmed the news on Monday, highlighting the scale of the operation. "This is likely the biggest drug haul ever by the Indian Coast Guard," they said, adding that more details will be released soon.
Crackdown on Drug Smuggling
This significant drug bust is part of an ongoing effort by anti-narcotics agencies to combat drug smuggling and disrupt international cartels.
Earlier this month, a similar operation resulted in the seizure of 700 kilograms of methamphetamine and the arrest of eight Iranian nationals in Indian territorial waters off the Gujarat coast.
The mission, called Sagar Manthan - 4, was initiated following intelligence reports. A suspect vessel was tracked and intercepted by the Indian Navy, using their maritime patrol assets.
The operation was a collaborative effort involving the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), the Navy, and the Gujarat Police Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS).
Union Home Minister Amit Shah praised the success of the operation, calling it a “stellar example of the government's commitment to its vision and the effective coordination among our agencies.”
This year alone, anti-narcotics agencies have seized a massive 3,500 kilograms of drugs being trafficked via maritime routes. The crackdowns have led to the arrests of 11 Iranians and 14 Pakistani nationals, who are currently awaiting court trials while being held in Indian jails.
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