Mumbai (Rajeev Sharma): An intelligence-driven maritime operation has led to the interception of an Iranian-flagged dhow carrying a large consignment of suspected narcotics in the Arabian Sea, west of Lakshadweep, officials said.
The operation was conducted jointly by the Indian Coast Guard, Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the Central Intelligence Agency, following intelligence inputs about the vessel’s suspected movement.
Coast Guard units detected the dhow and maintained surveillance as it travelled through the Arabian Sea. After sustained tracking, the vessel was pursued and subsequently boarded by the authorities.
A search of the vessel resulted in the recovery of 526 kilograms of heroin and methamphetamine, with the seized drugs estimated to be worth more than ₹3,000 crore in the illicit market, according to the authorities.
Five crew members, identified as Pakistani nationals, were taken into custody during the operation. The intercepted vessel and the detained crew have since been escorted to Mumbai, where a multi-agency investigation is expected to examine the origin of the drugs, their intended destination and the wider network allegedly involved in the trafficking operation.
Investigators are also expected to look into possible links to international drug-smuggling syndicates as the case progresses.
The interception highlights the role of maritime surveillance and intelligence coordination in detecting suspected transnational narcotics movements along India’s western seaboard. Authorities said investigations and subsequent legal proceedings will determine the full extent of the network connected to the seized consignment.
