In a historic joint operation involving the Navy, Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad, and the Narcotics Control Bureau, Indian agencies successfully seized a whopping 3,300 kg drug of narcotics from an Iranian boat off the Gujarat coast. This operation, conducted in the Arabian Sea near the International Maritime Boundary Line, resulted in the largest-ever seizure of substances including charas, methamphetamine, and morphine. The five foreign nationals aboard the Iranian boat have been apprehended, marking a significant milestone in the fight against drug trafficking.
Valued at over Rs 2,000 crore, the seizure is considered a major achievement in combating the illegal drug trade. The investigation is currently underway to dismantle the smuggling network responsible for this massive haul.
The Defence Ministry described the operation as the largest drug haul seizure in recent times. The seized contraband includes 3,089 kg of charas, 158 kg of methamphetamine, and 25 kg of morphine. The Iranian boat and its crew were brought to Porbandar port, where they were handed over to local police for further investigation.
According to Gujarat Police, the arrested foreign nationals lacked any identification documents. The drugs were reportedly intended for delivery in southern states, highlighting the extent of the network involved in this illegal trade.
The coordinated operation at sea involved the Indian Navy and the Narcotics Control Bureau. Acting on intelligence received from the Indian Navy’s maritime surveillance aircraft, a mission-deployed Indian Navy warship intercepted the suspicious vessel carrying the contraband. The successful tracking and interception of the boat at sea led to its towing to the nearest Indian port, where the crew and contraband were handed over to law enforcement agencies.
The Defence Ministry emphasized the significance of this operation, not only in terms of the quantity and cost of the seized contraband but also in highlighting the collaborative efforts between the Indian Navy and the Narcotics Control Bureau. The operation aimed at disrupting the illegal narcotics smuggling routes originating from the Makran coast and flowing towards various countries in the Indian Ocean region (IOR).
The Defence Ministry mentioned that this operation is important because it’s not just about catching a lot of illegal drugs and their value. It also shows how the Indian Navy and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) worked together to stop the illegal drug routes coming from the Makran coast. These routes lead to different countries in the Indian Ocean region (IOR). So, it’s not just about the quantity of drugs but also about the teamwork to stop the smuggling of drugs from certain areas to many countries in the Indian Ocean region.
The successful interception and seizure underscore the effectiveness of intelligence-sharing and coordinated efforts between different agencies in safeguarding the nation’s waters from the menace of drug trafficking. As investigations progress, authorities aim to dismantle the entire network involved in this illicit trade, sending a strong message against drug-related criminal activities in the region.
