NCB, Navy foil largest drug smuggling off Gujarat

Indian Navy personnel with 3,300 kg contraband seized from a vessel

In a joint effort, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), along with the Indian Navy and Gujarat ATS, confiscated a staggering drug haul worth Rs 1400 crore. Five foreign nationals, comprising four Pakistanis and one Afghan, were arrested. The intercepted high-quality charas, meant for distribution in India, especially metro cities like Mumbai, included sought-after Afghan charas intended for large gatherings.

This mid-sea operation was executed based on credible information, resulting in the seizure of approximately 3,110 kg of charas/hashish, 158.3 kg of crystalline powder methamphetamine, and 24.6 kg of suspected heroin.

"This is the highest offshore seizure by quantity in the country and a record in itself which includes the highest seizure of charas/hashish in the country. Five suspected foreign nationals have been detained/arrested." The NCB said in a statement.

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An NCB officer stated, "The heroin and charas seized are of very pure quality, produced in Afghanistan and smuggled into India via Iran and Pakistan before reaching the Gujarat coast."

"The NCB also discovered that the arrested suspects had already delivered several consignments prior to this, and this time they were apprehended," the officer added.

The NCB also initiated a manhunt for a fishing boat from Tamil Nadu, which was supposed to receive the delivery but managed to escape after the NCB operation with the Indian Navy.

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) initiated Operation "SAGAR-MANTHAN" under the leadership of Gyaneshwar Singh, Deputy Director General (Ops), NCB, in collaboration with the Indian Navy to address the national security threat posed by drug trafficking in the Indian Ocean.

This operation, preceded by the successful "Operation Samudragupta," was prompted by credible intelligence indicating an unregistered foreign fishing vessel carrying over 3000 kilograms of narcotics and 5-7 foreign nationals entering Indian waters between 0500- 0700 hrs on February 27. Codenamed "SAGAR-MANTHAN-1," a joint team comprising NCB Operations Branch, Indian Navy, and Gujarat ATS was mobilised, with the Indian Navy promptly deploying maritime patrol aircraft and a warship to intercept the vessel.

"Five foreign nationals who are not carrying any identity documents have been arrested. One sat phone and four mobile phones along with the boat carrying drugs have been seized. The drug packaging material bears the print "Ras Awad Foods Co, produce of Pakistan," Singh said.

According to sources, out of five accused four are from Pakistan and one is from Iran. The agency is yet to get any documents for these accused to establish their identity "We are always focused on dismantling larger networks, which is the primary objective of the NCB. Whenever there is information about smaller cases, we pass it on to the local police," Singh said while speaking with mid-day.