In an unprecedented joint operation, the Indian Navy and the Narcotics Control Bureau seized a colossal quantity of drugs amounting to around 3,300 kg near Gujarat’s Porbandar. The remarkable achievement marks a significant stride in India’s war against narcotics trafficking. The interception took place on Tuesday when a small ship, manned by five Pakistani crew members, was flagged down at sea. From this vessel, law enforcement officers recovered a staggering 3,089 kg of charas, 158 kg of methamphetamine, and 25 kg of morphine. Consequently, the crew was detained and the drugs, which possess a high street value with charas estimated at Rs 7 crore per kg in the international market, were confiscated.
The operation, highlighted by the Indian Navy, was carried out near the International Maritime Boundary Line in the Arabian Sea. The dhow, a type of sailing vessel, was initially sighted by a Navy surveillance aircraft which prompted the interception and eventual seizure of drugs. The combined effort of these agencies has led to the largest offshore narcotics capture in Indian history, and the seized contraband, crew, and boat have been delivered to law enforcement onshore.
This arrest happened in the wake of another significant drug bust where 1,100 kilograms of mephedrone were seized across Pune and New Delhi. India’s Union home minister Amit Shah commended the operation as a reflection of the government’s dedication to a drug-free nation. Shah praised the coordinated efforts of the agencies involved, which also included the Gujarat Police, in seizing drugs from a mother ship—a vessel known for carrying and distributing narcotics. The historic bust dovetails with PM Narendra Modi’s vision for a drug-free India. While all five captured individuals lacked identity papers, they are suspected to be from Iran or Pakistan. The recent seizure dwarfs previous hauls in size, including a 221 kg methamphetamine capture in 2022 and the interception of 2500 kg of methamphetamine valued at ₹12000 crore from a vessel dispatched from Pakistan in May of the previous year.