Pak Boat Carrying Guns & Drugs Worth ₹300 Crs Intercepted Off Guj Coast

Gandhinagar: The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) intercepted a Pakistani boat off the coast of Gujarat that was attempting to enter Indian waters carrying roughly 40 kg of drugs worth Rs 300 crore as well as firearms, ammunition, and other supplies. Ten people from the Pakistani boat have been taken into custody.

ICG strategically placed their rapid patrol class ship ICGS Arinjay to patrol the area close to the putative International Maritime Border Line during the night of December 25–26 after receiving intelligence input from the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Gujarat.

In the wee hours of Monday, the ICG observed the Pakistani fishing boat “Al Soheli” travelling in a suspicious manner in the Indian seas.

When the Indian Coast Guard started interrogating persons on board, the Pakistani boat started evasive manoeuvring; it did so even after the Indian Coast Guard fired warning shots. The Pakistani boat was stopped by “Arinjay” of the Indian Coast Guard.

When the ICG searched the boat, they found 40 kilograms of cocaine worth Rs 300 crores, as well as weapons and ammunition. The crew was arrested and sent to the Gujarati coastal town of Okha for additional inquiry after the boat was confiscated by the authorities.

The Indian Coast Guard and ATS, Gujarat, have collaborated on seven operations over the past 18 months. This is the first operation where drugs and weapons were being brought into the country. During this time, 346 kilos of heroin worth Rs 1,930 crores have been seized, and 44 Pakistanis and 7 Iranians have been imprisoned.