In a collaborative effort between the Indian Navy and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), a suspicious dhow intercepted off the Gujarat coast on Tuesday yielded a staggering 3,300 kilograms of narcotics, marking it as the largest drug seizure in recent memory.
The seizure comprised 3,089 kilograms of charas, 158 kilograms of Methamphetamine, and 25 kilograms of morphine, underscoring the magnitude of the operation in combating narcotics trafficking. All five crew members aboard the vessel, identified as foreigners, were promptly apprehended and turned over to law enforcement authorities in Porbandar following the operation on February 27th.
The initiative stemmed from intelligence gathered by the P8I LRMR aircraft during a surveillance mission, which prompted the Navy to redirect resources for the interception successfully. Reflecting on the operation’s significance, the Navy emphasized its steadfast stance against narcotics trafficking in India’s maritime domain.
The vessel, purportedly of Iranian origin, was estimated to be carrying contraband valued at over Rs 1,000 crore, highlighting the scale of the illicit activity disrupted by the joint operation. This operation, executed near the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) in the Arabian Sea, involved collaborative efforts from Gujarat’s Anti-Terrorist Squad, Indian Navy, and the NCB, according to an ATS official.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah commended the achievement, hailing it as a testament to the government’s commitment to eradicating drug abuse in India. Shah attributed the success to the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and congratulated the NCB, Navy, and Gujarat Police for their pivotal roles in the operation.
