The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and the Indian Coast Guard have successfully seized 300 kg of drugs valued at Rs 1,800 crore, which were discarded into the Arabian Sea by smugglers before they fled, officials confirmed on Monday.
The drugs, suspected to be methamphetamine, were seized following a joint operation carried out near the Indian Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) off Gujarat in the early hours of April 12 and 13.
According to the Coast Guard, the smugglers, who were on a boat, attempted to evade capture by dumping the contraband into the sea as the Coast Guard ship approached. The smugglers then fled towards the IMBL. However, despite the attempt to dispose of the drugs, more than 300 kg of the contraband was recovered during the operation.
The Coast Guard has handed over the seized drugs to the ATS for further investigation.
The authorities’ quick response to the situation and their coordination in carrying out the operation have been hailed as a significant success in curbing drug smuggling in the region.
Notable instances of significant drug seizures off Gujarat's coast in recent years:
1. November 2024 – Operation 'Sagar Manthan-4'
In a joint operation by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Indian Navy, and Gujarat ATS, approximately 700 kg of methamphetamine was seized from a foreign vessel in Indian territorial waters. Eight Iranian nationals were arrested in connection with this operation.
2. March 2024 – Pakistani boat seizure
Indian authorities intercepted a Pakistani boat about 350 km off Gujarat's coast, seizing drugs valued at approximately $58 million. Six Pakistani crew members were arrested and brought to Porbandar for further investigation.
3. April 2024 – Heroin seizure
In a joint maritime operation by the NCB, Gujarat ATS, and the Indian Coast Guard, a foreign boat carrying approximately 86 kg of heroin was seized. Fourteen Pakistani nationals were arrested during this operation, which resulted in drugs worth around Rs 602 crore being seized.
4. February 2024 – Record offshore seizure
A significant operation, 'Sagar Manthan-1', led to the seizure of approximately 3,300 kg of narcotic drugs, including 3,110 kg of charas/hashish, 158.3 kg of crystalline methamphetamine, and 24.6 kg of suspected heroin. Five suspected foreign nationals were detained in this record offshore seizure.
5. 2015 – Heroin seizure and conviction
In 2015, the Indian Coast Guard arrested eight Pakistani nationals aboard a boat carrying 232 kg of heroin valued at Rs 6.96 crore off the Gujarat coast. The accused were sentenced to 20 years in prison under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
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