Coast Guard seizes Rs 3000 cr drugs from Iranian boat in Arabian Sea

Ahmedabad: The Indian Coast Guard, working jointly with the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), seized 526 kg of methamphetamine and heroin worth over Rs 3,000 crore from an Iranian boat in the Arabian Sea, officials said on Wednesday.

The operation, conducted near Lakshadweep on September 25, also resulted in the detention of five Pakistani nationals who were operating the vessel, according to the Coast Guard, according to media reports.

Acting on intelligence inputs, Coast Guard units carried out coordinated sea and air surveillance to track the suspicious dhow. The vessel was subsequently pursued and boarded west of Lakshadweep, officials said.

The seized consignment consisted of high-grade methamphetamine and heroin. The boat, its crew and the confiscated drugs were later escorted to Mumbai under armed security for joint interrogation and further legal action.

The operation was carried out in coordination with the Gujarat ATS, which also confirmed the detention of the five Pakistani nationals and was expected to provide further details at a media briefing.

The seizure comes amid intensified efforts by security agencies to tackle international drug trafficking through maritime routes.

The Coast Guard said the operation demonstrated its surveillance and maritime interception capabilities and underlined its efforts to prevent illegal activities in Indian waters. It added that the seizure would disrupt the financial operations of international drug syndicates and prevent synthetic narcotics from reaching the Indian mainland.