Indian Coast Guard Seizes 526 Kg Narcotics Worth Over Rs 3,000 Crore in Arabian Sea

Convener News Desk

New Delhi, September 29: The Indian Coast Guard, in coordination with the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Gujarat, has seized around 526 kg of narcotics valued at over Rs 3,000 crore in the international market during an operation in the Arabian Sea west of Lakshadweep.

According to the Indian Coast Guard, the operation was launched on the basis of actionable intelligence. Coast Guard assets conducted sea-air surveillance and tracked a suspicious Iranian dhow before intercepting and boarding the vessel on September 25.

The seized contraband comprised heroin and methamphetamine, the Coast Guard said.

Five Pakistani nationals operating the vessel were apprehended during the operation.

The intercepted dhow, its crew and the seized contraband have been escorted to Mumbai under armed escort for joint interrogation and further legal proceedings, the Coast Guard said.

The operation was carried out in coordination with ATS Gujarat and involved surveillance and tracking before the vessel was intercepted at sea.

The Coast Guard said the seizure had disrupted a major maritime narcotics smuggling attempt and reaffirmed its commitment to preventing the trafficking of illicit drugs through India’s maritime domain.

The operation comes as part of ongoing efforts by enforcement and security agencies to prevent narcotics from reaching the Indian mainland and to support the government’s broader objective of combating drug abuse.