The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) on Tuesday apprehended a Pakistani fishing vessel off Gujarat and seized 100 kgs of heroin.
“Following a tip-off @IndiaCoastGuard Ship apprehended a #Karachi registered #Pakistani #Fishing Boat ‘AL-MADINA’ with 06 crew onboard off #Gujarat coast this morning & seized 194 packets of #Narcotics substance. Boat is being escorted 2 #Jakhau 4 investigation,” Indian Coast Guard said in a tweet.
“On May 19, intelligence inputs were received of a suspicious vessel likely to be engaged in drug trafficking in area off Indo-Pak International Maritime Border Line (IMBL) off the Gujarat Coast. Similar inputs were also received from Directorate of Revenue Intelligence on May 20,” the defence ministry said in a statement.
“Indian Coast Guard immediately swung into action and Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Ship Arinjay on patrol off Indo-Pak IMBL was alerted about the suspect vessel. Two additional Interceptor Boats C-437 and C-408 were also tasked from Jakhau and Okha to augment the search for the suspect vessel. ICG Dornier aircraft was also launched from Porbandar on May 20 and 21 for aerial recce in the area,” the statement added.
“Coast Guard Ships and aircraft maintained extensive search in the area for intercepting the suspect vessel. ICG ships classified various contacts in the area and kept them under constant surveillance. During search, one fishing boat was observed to be suspicious and Coast Guard ships in area shadowed the suspect vessel during late night on May 20,” it said.
The statement further said, “the suspect vessel with first light on May 21 crossed the IMBL towards Indian side and started moving towards the Jakhau coast. The suspect vessel Al Madina was kept under surveillance and intercepted on Tuesday morning about 08 NM inside Indian waters off IMBL by ICG ship Arinjay.”
“During boarding, the vessel was found to be a Pakistani Fishing Boat Al Madina registered at Karachi with 06 Pakistani crew. Initial search of the fishing boat by Indian Coast Guard boarding party revealed 194 packets of suspected narcotics substance. The vessel is being escorted to Jakhau harbour for detailed investigation and rummaging,” it said.
