Coast Guard Seizes Rs 3,000 Crore Drugs From Iranian Boat Off Mumbai Coast
MUMBAI: The Indian Coast Guard and Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad have seized 526 kg of heroin and methamphetamine worth more than ₹3,000 crore from an Iranian dhow in the Arabian Sea, in a major Mumbai drug bust that has resulted in five Pakistani nationals being detained.
The operation took place on September 25, west of Lakshadweep. The vessel, its crew and the seized narcotics were later brought to Mumbai under armed escort for joint interrogation and further legal proceedings, according to the Coast Guard.
Coast Guard Seizure Follows Sea-Air Surveillance
The Coast Guard seizure followed intelligence inputs that prompted coordinated surveillance by sea and air. Coast Guard assets tracked the suspicious dhow before launching a hot pursuit and boarding the vessel west of Lakshadweep.
The recovered consignment consisted of high-grade heroin and methamphetamine. Authorities placed its value at more than ₹3,000 crore in the international market.
The operation was conducted jointly with the Gujarat ATS as agencies continue efforts to intercept suspected maritime drug-trafficking networks operating through the Arabian Sea.
Iranian Dhow Brought To Mumbai
Although the interception occurred near Lakshadweep rather than directly off Mumbai, the vessel was subsequently escorted to Mumbai along with the detained crew and seized drugs.
The Coast Guard said the crew would face joint interrogation and further legal proceedings. The Gujarat ATS also confirmed that five Pakistani nationals operating the vessel had been apprehended.
The identities of the detained men and the alleged destination of the narcotics have not been publicly disclosed in the reports reviewed so far.
The development comes amid continuing concern over the use of maritime routes for large-scale narcotics trafficking. Indian agencies have increasingly relied on intelligence-led surveillance and coordinated operations to identify suspicious vessels.
₹3,000 Crore Haul Under Multi-Agency Investigation
The latest Mumbai drug bust is significant because of the quantity and estimated international value of the seized narcotics.
The Coast Guard said the operation disrupted a suspected transnational smuggling attempt before the consignment could reach the mainland. The agency described the action as part of its efforts to prevent illicit activity in Indian maritime zones.
The Coast Guard seizure also highlights the role of joint operations between maritime security agencies and state-level investigative units. Further questioning of the crew is expected to establish the source of the drugs, their intended destination and the wider network allegedly connected to the shipment.
No conclusion about the detained crew’s alleged role in the wider trafficking network should be drawn before the investigation and legal proceedings are completed.
Investigation To Determine Wider Network
The seized vessel and narcotics are now in Mumbai as authorities begin the next stage of the investigation.
Officials are expected to examine communications, navigation records, cargo details and other evidence recovered from the dhow as investigators work to establish how the consignment entered the maritime route and who was expected to receive it.
The Mumbai drug bust could therefore lead to further arrests if investigators identify additional people connected to the suspected trafficking operation.
For now, the confirmed developments are the seizure of 526 kg of heroin and methamphetamine, the detention of five Pakistani nationals, and the transfer of the vessel and seized contraband to Mumbai for further investigation.
