In a dramatic overnight operation, Indian maritime forces have struck a major blow to transnational drug trafficking. The Indian Coast Guard and Gujarat’s Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) jointly intercepted a narcotics consignment valued at over ₹1,800 crore—over 300 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine—dumped into the Arabian Sea by smugglers fleeing across the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).
The operation, executed in the dark hours between April 12 and 13, was triggered by precise intelligence from the ATS. Acting swiftly, the Coast Guard diverted a patrol vessel operating in the Arabian Sea towards the suspect coordinates near the IMBL. Despite pitch-black conditions and evasive manoeuvres by the traffickers, the Coast Guard successfully recovered the dumped consignment.
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Smugglers Dump Drugs, Flee Across Boundary
The smugglers, aboard a suspicious vessel, allegedly panicked upon spotting the approaching Coast Guard ship and jettisoned their high-value cargo into the sea before crossing into international waters, avoiding direct apprehension. The ICG crew deployed a smaller boat to retrieve the floating packages while simultaneously launching a pursuit—though the traffickers managed to escape due to the proximity of the international boundary. The recovered substance, believed to be methamphetamine—a potent synthetic stimulant with a high street value—has since been brought ashore to Porbandar for further forensic testing and investigation.
The Arabian Sea, particularly near the IMBL, has emerged as a volatile hotspot for drug smuggling, often involving international syndicates operating between Pakistan, Iran, and India. The haul underscores the growing trend of narcotics being routed via maritime corridors—a tactic used to evade land-based surveillance and border controls. This interception is part of a growing body of successful interdiction operations, with this being the 13th such joint seizure involving the Coast Guard and ATS in recent years. Officials say the increasing synergy between maritime forces and intelligence units is yielding concrete results in India’s battle against drug cartels operating in the region.
The seized contraband is now in the custody of the Gujarat ATS, which is expected to probe the logistics trail, including the origin of the consignment, its intended recipients, and possible cross-border links. Early indicators suggest a foreign origin, but investigators will also examine any domestic networks involved in facilitating the smuggling. As India sharpens its maritime intelligence and expands surveillance along its coasts, such interdictions are likely to rise. The operation off Gujarat is not just a story of drugs intercepted—it’s a reminder of the silent battles fought nightly on the seas to keep India’s borders secure.
With inputs from agencies
Image Source: Multiple agencies
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