NCB, Navy, Gujarat ATS Seize 3300 Kgs Drugs Offshore Gujarat Allegedly Intended For Delivery To TN, TN BJP Head Annamalai Slams DMK Govt

In a collaborative operation, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), the Indian Navy, and the Gujarat anti-terrorism squad (ATS) successfully confiscated a substantial drug haul weighing nearly 3,300kg, with an estimated value of ₹1,200 crore, off the Gujarat coast. This marked one of the nation’s most significant crackdowns on illicit substances, leading to the apprehension of five individuals suspected to be of Pakistani and Iranian origin.

The seized drugs comprised 3,293kg in total, consisting of 3,110kg of hashish, 158.3kg of methamphetamine, and 24.6kg of heroin. The narcotics were cleverly concealed in packets bearing the labels of a Pakistani food brand and a coffee company. The intricate smuggling operation originated from the Chabahar Port in Iran and involved a “mothership,” a small, unmarked fishing boat measuring no more than 15 feet.

Describing the sequence of events, officials revealed that the mothership, acting as a conduit for large quantities of contraband, was intercepted 60 nautical miles off the coast of Porbandar in Gujarat. Home Minister Amit Shah hailed this as the “biggest offshore seizure of drugs in the country,” emphasizing the government’s commitment to eradicating drug-related activities.

While investigations are ongoing to uncover the complete details of the operation, initial findings suggest that the mothership covered approximately 400 nautical miles from Chabahar Port before its capture. It is suspected that the contraband was loaded onto the vessel between 23 and 24 February 2024  at Chabahar Port located in Iran, with the intention of delivering it to Indian nationals on a fishing trawler from Tamil Nadu. In order to establish links, a team of NCB personnel heads to Tamil Nadu.

The arrested smugglers, aged between 30 and 45, purported to be fishermen carrying nets and two weeks’ worth of rations. Three of them claimed Iranian nationality, and two asserted Pakistani origin during interrogations. Notably, they lacked any identification documents.

Indian waters have become a target for international drug smugglers due to its vulnerability. However, recent crackdowns, including collaborative efforts between NCB and the Indian Navy, have resulted in the seizure of substantial drug quantities. The joint press conference by the three agencies disclosed that an unregistered foreign fishing vessel, lacking an automatic identification system, entered Indian waters with drugs on board.

Operation “Sagar Manthan 1” was launched to trace the mothership, leading to its interception on the morning of 27 February 2024. The vessel was towed to Porbandar, and investigations are underway to identify the entire international syndicate involved in the drug trafficking. The NCB is actively collaborating with foreign drug law enforcement agencies to trace the origins and networks of the cartel responsible for this illicit activity.

NCB Director General SN Pradhan highlighted the increasing stockpile of heroin in Afghanistan and Myanmar’s emerging role as a significant supplier. The agency is vigilant against the modus operandi of drug cartels using the Arabian Sea route, coordinating with mainland contacts to transfer drugs at specific points in the sea.