KD NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, Sep 30: In a major maritime operation against transnational narcotics trafficking, the Indian Coast Guard, in close coordination with the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Gujarat, has seized approximately 526 kg of high-grade narcotics valued at more than ₹3,000 crore in the international market from a suspicious Iranian dhow in the Arabian Sea, west of Lakshadweep.
The seizure, comprising heroin and methamphetamine, was made during an intelligence-led operation on September 25. The operation also resulted in the apprehension of five Pakistani nationals who were allegedly operating the intercepted vessel.
According to the Indian Coast Guard, the operation was launched on the basis of actionable intelligence regarding the movement of a suspected narcotics consignment through the Arabian Sea. Coast Guard assets deployed a coordinated sea-air surveillance operation to locate and track the suspicious vessel.
The vessel was kept under continuous surveillance before Coast Guard units moved in to intercept it. Following a hot pursuit, the suspicious Iranian dhow was successfully intercepted and boarded on September 25.
A detailed search of the vessel led to the recovery of approximately 526 kg of narcotic substances, including heroin and methamphetamine. The drugs have been assessed to have an international market value exceeding ₹3,000 crore.
The massive seizure is being viewed as a significant disruption to a transnational narcotics trafficking network, particularly given the use of the maritime route to transport a large consignment of high-value drugs.
Following the interception, the dhow, its crew and the seized contraband were placed under armed escort and are being brought to Mumbai, where the suspects and the seized material will undergo further investigation.
The five Pakistani nationals apprehended during the operation are expected to be subjected to joint interrogation by multiple agencies. Investigators will seek to establish the source of the narcotics, their intended destination, the identities of the financiers and handlers behind the shipment and the possible involvement of a wider international trafficking network.
The operation has also highlighted the importance of intelligence-based surveillance of India’s maritime domain, particularly the Arabian Sea, which remains an important route for international maritime movement.
The Indian Coast Guard’s coordinated deployment of sea and air assets enabled the suspicious vessel to be tracked before the interception, demonstrating the role of integrated maritime surveillance in detecting and disrupting illicit activities at sea.
The recovery of both heroin and methamphetamine makes the operation particularly significant from a narcotics-control perspective. By intercepting the consignment before it could reach its intended destination, the agencies prevented a substantial quantity of illicit drugs from potentially entering the domestic distribution network.
The operation also underlines the growing importance of coordination between maritime security agencies and specialised law-enforcement organisations in tackling organised drug trafficking. The participation of ATS Gujarat is expected to assist in tracing the wider network associated with the seized consignment.
Authorities will now examine the vessel, its navigation history, communication records and other available evidence to identify possible links with individuals and organisations involved in the international narcotics trade.
The seizure is also expected to provide investigators with leads regarding the route used by the syndicate and the intended recipients of the consignment. Further action will be taken on the basis of evidence emerging during the joint investigation and interrogation of the apprehended crew.
The Indian Coast Guard said the successful operation demonstrated its robust maritime surveillance capabilities and readiness to respond to intelligence inputs concerning illegal activities in India’s maritime domain.
The operation also supports the Union Government’s broader objective of combating drug trafficking and advancing the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, by preventing illicit narcotics from reaching the country’s shores and disrupting the financial networks that sustain organised trafficking.
Comdt Amit Uniyal, Chief Public Relations Officer, Indian Coast Guard, said the operation reflected the force’s continued commitment to maintaining strict vigilance against illicit activities in India’s maritime domain. He said the Coast Guard remained fully prepared to safeguard the country’s maritime interests and prevent the trafficking of narcotics through
India’s sea routes.
The intercepted dhow, the apprehended crew and the seized narcotics are being brought to Mumbai for comprehensive multi-agency investigation and legal proceedings. The investigation is expected to determine the full extent of the network behind the consignment and identify other persons involved in the trafficking operation.
