In a significant operation on April 28, 2024, the Indian Coast Guard intercepted a Pakistani boat off the Gujarat coast, seizing a staggering 86 kg of drugs valued at Rs 600 crore. The daring mission, conducted in the Arabian Sea, saw the arrest of 14 individuals aboard the vessel. The operation was a collaborative effort between the Indian Coast Guard, Gujarat Anti-terrorism Squad, and the Narcotics Control Bureau.
The Indian Coast Guard has apprehended 14 Pakistani nationals. (Indian Coast Guard)
How the Operation Took Place
In a dramatic turn of events, Pakistani nationals attempted to evade arrest during a search operation near the international sea border within Indian territorial waters. In a desperate bid to escape, they resorted to dangerous tactics, including attempting to ram their boat into ATS officials and opening fire in retaliation. Despite their efforts, the suspects (14 Pakistani Nationals) were apprehended by security agencies.
This incident unfolded just a day after the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) uncovered three clandestine labs manufacturing the banned drug mephedrone, colloquially known as 'meow meow', in Gujarat and Rajasthan. The NCB's swift action led to the arrest of seven individuals linked to the illegal drug trade, with narcotics worth approximately Rs 300 crore seized in the operation. The breakthrough came after the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of Gujarat Police received crucial intelligence from a confidential source regarding the illicit drug manufacturing operations in the region.
Indian Coast Guard Statements on the Matter
"The operation was an epitome of inter-agency coordination wherein Indian Coast Guard (ICG)Anti-terrorism Squad (ATS) and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) collaborated seamlessly which culminated in the successful operation," the ICG said in a press release.
"No amount of evasive maneuvering tactics employed by the drug-laden boat could save it from the swift and strong ICG ship Rajratan. Ship's specialist team embarked the suspect boat and after thorough checks, confirmed the presence of the sizeable amount narcotics," the press release stated.
The Pakistan boat along with its crew has been apprehended and is being brought to Porbandar for further investigations.
"The jointness of ICG and ATS, which has led to eleven such successful law enforcement operations in the last three years reaffirms the synergy for national objective," the ICG added.
In another seizure, the Coast Guard intercepted 173 kg of Hashish smuggled from Pakistan off the Gujarat coast; 5 held
In a significant development, Indian security forces have made yet another major breakthrough in their ongoing efforts to curb drug smuggling activities along the Gujarat coast. This seizure comes hot on the heels of a recent operation where 14 Pakistanis were apprehended, and a staggering 86 kg of contraband drugs, valued at approximately ₹600 crore, were confiscated. The Indian Coast Guard (ICG), in collaboration with the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), intercepted a total of 173 kg of Hashish, with an estimated street value of ₹60 crore. This illicit consignment was discovered aboard an Indian fishing vessel navigating the Arabian Sea off the Porbandar coast, resulting in the arrest of five individuals suspected of involvement in the smuggling operation.
Following intelligence inputs, the Gujarat ATS squad launched a targeted operation, honing in on three individuals hailing from Mumbai and Bheed in Maharashtra. Kailash Vajinath Sanap, Datta Sakharam, and Mangesh Tukkaram alias Sahu were identified as key players orchestrating the illicit transportation of narcotics via the sea route, utilizing an Indian fishing boat as their vessel of choice.
“Acting on this intel, a joint team of the Indian Coast Guard and Gujarat ATS launched an operation from Porbandar and intercepted the boat on April 28, recovering 173 packets of Hashish (weighing 173 kg). Further investigations revealed their connections with Pakistani drug syndicates,” said a Gujarat ATS official, requesting anonymity.
According to officials familiar with the case, the accused had meticulously planned their operation, hiring a local boat to journey to a prearranged location off Pasni, Pakistan. It was at this designated spot that they received the illicit contraband, further implicating their involvement in the smuggling network. However, their efforts were thwarted upon their return to Indian waters, where they were promptly apprehended by vigilant security forces. Subsequently, the seized drugs were handed over to the appropriate authorities for further investigation and legal proceedings.
In a separate yet equally significant development, just a couple of days prior on April 26, a joint operation conducted by the Gujarat ATS and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) resulted in the arrest of 13 individuals across Gujarat and Rajasthan. These individuals were allegedly found to be in possession of mephedrone, a banned substance, with an estimated street value of ₹230 crore.
Apart from this, the Indian Coast Guard made headlines in March when they apprehended six Pakistani nationals along with narcotics worth a staggering Rs 480 crores off the Porbandar coast. This incident added to the growing concerns surrounding drug trafficking activities in the region. Similarly, in February, a joint operation involving the Indian Navy and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) led to the interception of a vessel near Porbandar, resulting in the seizure of drugs weighing approximately 3,300 kg. This significant haul marked one of the largest drug seizures in recent memory, highlighting the persistent challenges posed by drug smuggling operations in the maritime domain.
Furthermore, in certain instances, authorities also discovered arms and ammunition alongside the confiscated narcotics, underscoring the multifaceted nature of illicit activities in the region.
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