Massive Drug Bust: Indian Coast Guard Seizes 526 kg of Contraband from Iranian Vessel
Significant Drug Seizure in Arabian Sea
Security personnel detain five Pakistani nationals aboard dhow near Lakshadweep. (Photo:PTI)
Ahmedabad, Sept 30: In a collaborative effort, the Indian Coast Guard and the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) have successfully intercepted an Iranian boat in the Arabian Sea, seizing 526 kg of illegal drugs valued at over Rs 3,000 crore.
The operation, which took place on September 25, resulted in the detention of five Pakistani crew members aboard the vessel, as confirmed by the Coast Guard.
The detained individuals were identified as Mohammad Yakub Balochi, Shakirullah, Faridullah, Ahmed Khan, and Wahidullah Khan, all hailing from Peshawar, Pakistan.
Utilizing intelligence reports, the Coast Guard deployed sea-air surveillance to monitor the suspicious dhow, which was subsequently pursued and boarded west of Lakshadweep.
The confiscated drugs included high-grade methamphetamine and heroin. The vessel, along with its crew and the seized narcotics, was escorted to Mumbai for further investigation and legal action.
During a press briefing in Ahmedabad, Gujarat ATS Deputy Inspector General Sunil Joshi stated that the operation was initiated following intelligence regarding a shipment allegedly being smuggled from Iran to India via sea.
The Iranian boat, named Azad, was intercepted approximately 160 nautical miles northwest of Lakshadweep and about 490 nautical miles southwest of Mumbai on the evening of September 25.
Initial investigations revealed that the drugs were intended to be transferred to another vessel mid-sea before reaching the Tamil Nadu coast.
Joshi explained that the boat was set to approach from waters near Lakshadweep and Mumbai to offload the delivery onto another vessel from Tamil Nadu.
According to the ATS, the boat had departed from the vicinity of Konarak port in Iran.
While passing Gwadar in Pakistan, smugglers allegedly transferred the contraband onto the Iranian vessel using a smaller boat, as stated by Joshi.
The drugs were reportedly linked to a transnational smuggling network led by Haji Salim, with plans for the crew to hand over the narcotics to another boat at sea.
“Preliminary investigations suggest that after arriving in Tamil Nadu, the drugs were meant to be transferred to Punjab for a Nigerian handler,” Joshi added.
An FIR has been filed, and legal proceedings have commenced at the Gujarat ATS police station.
When questioned about the shift in smuggling routes from the Gujarat coast, Joshi noted that recent enforcement actions by the Gujarat ATS and other agencies have complicated landings along the state's coastline.
“Our intelligence network is highly effective, significantly hindering trafficking attempts along the Gujarat coastline. Consequently, narcotics from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran are now being redirected to other Indian states,” Joshi remarked.
Regarding a Gujarat-based suspect believed to be involved in orchestrating the operation, Joshi mentioned that the ATS is collaborating with other agencies to locate him, although he did not reveal the suspect's identity.
“We expect to uncover more connections soon, and updates will be provided accordingly,” he concluded.