New Delhi: In a largest seizure of narcotics in recent times, the Indian Navy and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) apprehended a suspicious dhow carrying about 3300 kg of contraband off the Gujarat coast.
According to the Indian Navy, the contraband consists of 3089 kg Charas, 158 Kg Methamphetamine and 25 Kg Morphine and was seized on Tuesday.
Based on intelligence received from the Indian Navy’s maritime surveillance aircraft, which was corroborated with inputs from the NCB, a mission-deployed IN warship was pressed into action to intercept a suspicious dhow en route to Indian waters with sizeable contraband. The IN units successfully located, tracked, and intercepted the suspicious boat at sea, the Indian Navy said.
The boarding operations on the dhow resulted in the largest seizure of narcotics, in quantity, in recent times. Subsequently, the boat was towed by the IN warship to the nearest Indian port to hand over the crew and contraband to the Law Enforcement Agencies.
This operation is significant, not only in terms of quantity and cost of the seized contraband, but also highlights the collaborative efforts between the Indian Navy and the NCB for disruption of the illegal narcotics smuggling routes, which emanate from the Makran coast and flow towards various IOR countries.
The contraband, the apprehended boat, and the crew were handed over to the law enforcement agencies at an Indian port.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday praised the agencies for their swift action in seizing the contraband.
In a post on X, Shah said, "Pursuing PM @Narendra Modi Ji's vision of a drug-free Bharat, our agencies today achieved the grand success of making the biggest offshore seizure of drugs in the nation. In a joint operation carried out by the NCB, the Navy, and the Gujarat Police, a gigantic consignment of 3132 kg of drugs was seized.The historic success is a testament to our govt's unwavering commitment to making our nation drug-free. On this occasion, I congratulate the NCB, the Navy, and the Gujarat Police".
