The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), with assistance from the Indian Navy and the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), seized 3,300 kg of drugs from a boat manned by suspected Pakistani crew members off the coast of Gujarat. This is the biggest seizure of narcotics in the Indian subcontinent.
The international market value of these drugs is estimated to be more than Rs 2,000 crore.
"Produce of Pakistan” is written on the cache of the seized narcotics, which include 3,089 kg of cannabis, 158 kg methamphetamine, and 25 kg of morphine.
Based on inputs from a surveillance aircraft, an Indian Navy mission-deployed ship which was at sea for two days stopped the suspicious boat as it entered Indian territorial waters.
Upon investigation of the boat, the authorities discovered the large amount of drugs, following which the five crew members were arrested, while the vessel and narcotics were seized.
The seized boat, drugs, and the crew members have been taken to Porbandar, Gujarat.
An investigation is underway to collect more information on the suspected Pakistani crew members and to find the origin and destination of the narcotics.
Responding to the operation, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday congratulated the law enforcement agencies for pursuing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "vision of a drug-free Bharat".
"The historic success is a testament to our govt's unwavering commitment to making our nation drug-free. On this occasion, I congratulate the NCB, the Navy, and the Gujarat Police," he said in a post on X.
The Indian Navy had previously recovered drugs worth crores of rupees in several operations at sea.
