New Delhi: The Indian Coast Guard (ICG), working with the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Gujarat, has intercepted an Iranian dhow in the Arabian Sea, west of Lakshadweep, seized about 526 kg of heroin and methamphetamine, and arrested its five Pakistani crew members, the force said on Tuesday.
According to the ICG, the consignment is valued at over ₹3,000 crore in international markets.
Acting on intelligence, ICG ships and aircraft tracked the dhow before closing in and boarding it on September 25. The force said the vessel, its crew and the contraband were escorted to Mumbai, where they will be questioned jointly by several agencies before legal proceedings begin.
The ICG described the operation as proof of its surveillance capability and said it remained committed to stopping illegal activity in India's territorial waters and the wider maritime zones.
It also linked the seizure to the Centre's Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (drug-free India campaign), saying that intercepting synthetic drugs at sea keeps them from reaching the mainland and protects young people.
The ICG has not yet said who the consignment was meant for, or whether the crew face charges. The interrogation in Mumbai is expected to clarify the route and the network behind the shipment.
The statement was issued by Commandant Amit Uniyal, the ICG's chief public relations officer.
