Drugs Worth ₹600 Crore Seized from Pakistani Boat off Gujarat Coast; 14 Crew Members Held

Ahmedabad: In a major victory against drug trafficking, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), in a joint operation with the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), seized approximately 86 kg of drugs worth a staggering Rs 600 crore from a Pakistani boat off the Gujarat coast on Sunday.

The intelligence-driven overnight operation conducted in the Arabian Sea resulted in the apprehension of 14 crew members onboard the Pakistani vessel. The specific type of narcotics seized is yet to be disclosed by the Coast Guard.

Anti #Narco #Operations @IndiaCoastGuard Ship Rajratan with #ATS #Gujarat & #NCB @narcoticsbureau in an overnight sea – air coordinated joint ops apprehends #Pakistani boat in Arabian Sea, West of #Porbandar with 14 Pak crew & @86 Kg contraband worth approx ₹ 600Cr in… pic.twitter.com/N49LfrYLzz

— Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) April 28, 2024

Coast Guard ships and aircraft were strategically deployed to intercept the suspicious boat. ICG officials onboard ship Rajratan, along with NCB and ATS personnel, successfully identified the target vessel.

“The drug-laden boat’s evasive manoeuvres proved futile against the quick and determined actions of ICG ship Rajratan,” the Coast Guard said in a press release. “Our specialist team quickly boarded the suspect boat and confirmed the presence of a significant quantity of narcotics after a thorough inspection.”

The apprehended Pakistani boat and its 14 crew members are being brought to Porbandar for further investigation. This operation marks the 11th successful collaboration between the ICG and ATS in the last three years, highlighting the effectiveness of their combined efforts in safeguarding India’s maritime borders.