In a major anti-narcotics operation in the Arabian Sea, a crack team of the Indian Coast Guard and the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) intercepted a suspected drug-smuggling vessel and arrested five Pakistani nationals near the Lakshadweep Islands.
Acting on specific intelligence inputs, Coast Guard surveillance teams closely monitored a suspicious Iranian dhow on September 25. Through a coordinated sea-air operation, the vessel was tracked as it moved through waters west of Lakshadweep.
The operation culminated in the successful interception of the dhow, leading to the seizure of approximately 526 kilograms of high-grade narcotics, including heroin and methamphetamine, with an estimated international market value exceeding ₹3,000 crore.
The five Pakistani nationals aboard the vessel were apprehended while allegedly attempting to evade capture. Investigators believe the seizure has dealt a significant blow to an international drug trafficking network operating in the region.
The intercepted dhow, its crew, and the seized contraband have been escorted to Mumbai under armed security. Authorities will now undertake joint interrogation and detailed multi-agency investigations to uncover the wider network behind the smuggling operation and initiate legal proceedings
