Porbandar: Indian Coast Guard (ICG), in an operation with Gujarat Anti-terrorism Squad (ATS) and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), on Sunday seized 86 kg of drugs worth Rs 600 crore from a Pakistani vessel and detained 14 crew members near the International Maritime Boundary Line off the Gujarat coast.
“In a breathtaking overnight operation, the Indian Coast Guard undertook an intelligence-based anti-narcotics operation at sea. Approx 86 kg of narcotics worth Rs 600 crore has been apprehended along with 14 crew from the Pakistani boat,” ICG stated.
Coast Guard ship ICGS Rajratan, which had officials from NCB and ATS on board, identified and intercepted the suspected Pakistani drug-laden boat which was trying to evade capture.
“No amount of evasive manoeuvring tactics employed by the drug-laden boat could save it from the swift and strong ICG ship Rajratan. Ship’s specialist team embarked on the suspect boat and after thorough checks, confirmed the presence of the sizeable amount of narcotics,” ICG said.
The seized Pakistani boat, along with its crew, was brought to Porbandar for further investigation, NDTV reported.
Last month, a boat carrying 60 packets of drugs with 6 Pakistani nationals on board were apprehended near Gujarat coast.
On February 26 this year, five foreign nationals were caught off the Porbandar coast with 3,000 kg of narcotics.
