Coast Guard seizes drugs worth over ₹3,000 crore from Iranian boat

The Indian Coast Guard and Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad have seized 526 kg of methamphetamine and heroin valued at more than ₹3,000 crore from an Iranian boat in the Arabian Sea, officials said on Wednesday. Five Pakistani nationals operating the vessel were detained during the operation, which took place near Lakshadweep on September 25, according to a Coast Guard statement. The operation followed intelligence inputs.

Coast Guard assets conducted sea-air surveillance, tracked the suspicious dhow and launched a pursuit before boarding it west of Lakshadweep, the statement said. The seized drugs consisted of high-grade methamphetamine and heroin, officials said. The Coast Guard did not provide further details about the intended destination of the consignment or the identities of the people detained.

The boat, its crew and the seized contraband were brought to Mumbai under armed escort. They were to undergo joint interrogation, followed by further legal proceedings, the Coast Guard said. The Gujarat ATS also confirmed the detention of the five Pakistani nationals and was scheduled to brief the media later on Wednesday.

The Coast Guard said the seizure would help disrupt the financial networks of international drug syndicates and prevent synthetic drugs from reaching the mainland. It described the operation as demonstrating India’s surveillance and maritime-interdiction capabilities and its efforts to prevent illicit activity in the country’s maritime zones.