New Delhi: The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has intercepted a Pakistani boat off the Gujarat coast, seizing 86 kg of drugs valued at approximately Rs 600 crore. In an overnight operation conducted in the Arabian Sea, the ICG collaborated with the Gujarat Anti-terrorism Squad (ATS) and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) to apprehend 14 individuals aboard the vessel, the maritime security agency said on Sunday. This marks the 11th successful joint operation conducted over the past three years.
A senior Gujarat police official confirmed that heroin was seized from the intercepted boat. "In a daring overnight operation, the Indian Coast Guard conducted an intelligence-driven anti-narcotics mission at sea on April 28th. Approximately 86 kg of narcotics, valued at Rs 600 crore, was apprehended along with 14 crew members from the Pakistani boat," stated the agency in a release.
Coast Guard vessels and aircraft were deployed for the operation, with ICG ship Rajratan utilised to locate the suspect boat in collaboration with NCB and ATS officials, as reported by news agency PTI.
“No amount of evasive manoeuvring tactics employed by the drug-laden boat could save it from the swift and strong ICG ship Rajratan. The ship’s specialist team embarked on the suspect boat and, after thorough checks, confirmed the presence of a sizable amount of narcotics,” the Coast Guard said.
Pakistani Boat, Along With 14-Member Crew, Sent To Porbandar
The Pakistani boat, along with its 14-member crew, was apprehended and sent to Porbandar for further investigations, according to the statement. "The collaboration between the Indian Coast Guard and ATS, resulting in eleven successful law enforcement operations over the past three years, underscores the synergy in achieving national objectives," the release added.
Gujarat Director General of Police Vikas Sahay disclosed that a total of 78 packets weighing 86 kg were recovered from the Pakistani fishing boat. Preliminary investigations indicate that the packets contained heroin, a potent recreational opioid.
“Indian Coast Guard and ATS officials approached the Pakistani fishing boat and confronted it with bravery. An ICG official had to shoot, after which the crew members of the boat surrendered and the officials detained them", Sahay told media persons. He said the head of the crew was injured in his right hand in the firing and was undergoing treatment.
Following the seizure of the boat, a second ATS team was dispatched to the location, as stated by Vikas Sahay. "All the crew members originate from Balochistan, Pakistan," he confirmed. Sahay also recalled a previous incident in which the Coast Guard, NCB, and ATS jointly apprehended a boat transporting methamphetamine, a potent psycho-stimulant drug valued at over Rs 400 crore, along with its six Pakistani crew members off the Porbandar coast in Gujarat last month, as per PTI.
ALSO READ| Assam's Gamusa — A Tool Now To 'Wipe' Out Political Opponents
In February, officials reported that the Indian Navy and the NCB intercepted a dhow off the Gujarat coast, containing five crew members, and confiscated a staggering 3,300 kg of drugs, marking one of the largest drug seizures in recent history. The seized narcotics comprised 3,089 kilograms of charas, a highly potent form of cannabis resin. Officials estimated the value of charas to be nearly Rs 7 crore per kilogram in international markets, underscoring the magnitude of the interception.