50 kg heroin worth Rs 350 seized from Pakistani boat off Gujurat coast

Gandhinagar: In a joint operation, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) seized 50 kg of heroin, valued at Rs 350 crore in the international market, and detained six Pakistani crew members from Indian waters near IMBL.

The crew members and the boat have been taken to Jakhau for further joint investigation.

Gujarat Director General of Police Ashish Bhatia told mediapersons on Saturday that ATS Deputy Superintendent of Police KK Patel has received specific intelligence following which a high sea vigil is being conducted along with the ICG team from the last two up to three days.

The officer said that there is no need for a Pakistani boat to supply drugs into the country, the drugs are supplied to an Indian fishing boat in the open sea, that boat docks at the shore and enters the country.

The ICG said in a statement: “On the night of 7-8 October 2022, based on specific intelligence, the ICG strategically deployed two Fast Interceptor class ships, C-429 and C-454 to patrol an area near the conventional international maritime boundary Line (IMBL).

At midnight, a Pakistani boat was observed moving suspiciously in Indian waters, 5 nm inland from the notional IMBL and 40 nm from Jakhau. After being challenged, the Pakistani boat began an evasive maneuver. However, both ships intercepted the Pakistani boat and forced it to stop. A thorough search was carried out when the boat was boarded and 50kg of narcotics, believed to be heroin, were found hidden in five gunny sacks.

This is the sixth such joint operation by the ICG and ATS, Gujarat in the last one year and the second such operation in less than a month when 40 kg of drugs were seized from a Pakistani ship on September 14.

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