Five Pakistani crew members apprehended in joint operation with Gujarat ATS; vessel escorted to Mumbai for investigation
New Delhi: The Indian Coast Guard has seized 526 kg of heroin and methamphetamine, valued at over ₹3,000 crore, from a suspicious Iranian dhow in the Arabian Sea, west of Lakshadweep. Five Pakistani crew members aboard the vessel were apprehended during the operation.
According to media reports citing the Coast Guard’s statement, the operation was carried out on September 25 in coordination with the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), following intelligence inputs about the movement of a suspicious vessel.
In a post on X on Wednesday, the Coast Guard said its units had tracked the dhow through sustained surveillance and a hot pursuit before carrying out a tactical boarding. The operation resulted in the seizure of 526 kg of high-grade heroin and methamphetamine, with an estimated value of more than ₹3,000 crore.
The apprehended crew members and the intercepted vessel were escorted to Mumbai for multi-agency investigation and further legal proceedings, the Coast Guard said.
The operation was intelligence-led and involved coordination between the Coast Guard and Gujarat ATS. The agencies are expected to investigate the source and intended destination of the seized narcotics and identify any wider network linked to the suspected smuggling attempt.
The Coast Guard described the interception as a major action against transnational narcotics smuggling, reiterating its commitment to securing India’s maritime borders, disrupting drug syndicates and combating organised crime.
Further details about the identities of the apprehended crew members, the origin of the consignment and its intended destination have not been disclosed.
