Indian Coast Guard foils attempt to smuggle narcotics worth Rs3,000cr, apprehends 5 Pakistanis
Acting on intelligence inputs, Indian Coast Guard assets conducted sea-air surveillance and tracked the suspected vessel before launching a coordinated hot pursuit, the ministry said today.
The Indian Coast Guard, in coordination with the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Gujarat, has foiled an attempt to smuggle narcotics worth over Rs3,000 crore in the Arabian Sea and apprehended five Pakistani nationals aboard an Iranian dhow.
The operation was conducted west of Lakshadweep on 25 September, according to India's Defence Ministry.
Acting on intelligence inputs, Indian Coast Guard assets conducted sea-air surveillance and tracked the suspected vessel before launching a coordinated hot pursuit, the ministry said today.
The operation culminated in the interception and boarding of the dhow in the high seas.
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The joint operation led to the seizure of around 526kg of high-grade narcotics, including heroin and methamphetamine, and the apprehension of five Pakistani nationals who were operating the vessel.
The dhow, its crew and the seized contraband were subsequently escorted under armed security to Mumbai for joint interrogation and further investigation, followed by multi-agency legal proceedings.
