Gujarat Coast Guard and ATS Nab Rs 1,800 Crore Drug Haul Dumped at Sea

In a joint operation, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and the Indian Coast Guard seized 300 kg of suspected methamphetamine worth Rs 1,800 crore, abandoned by smugglers in the Arabian Sea near the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), officials reported Monday.

The operation, conducted overnight between April 12 and 13, targeted a smuggling vessel spotted off Gujarat’s coast, according to an Indian Coast Guard (ICG) statement. Acting on ATS intelligence, a Coast Guard ship from the Western Region was redirected to intercept the suspect boat. As the ICG vessel approached in darkness, the smugglers jettisoned their cargo into the sea and fled across the IMBL, evading capture due to their proximity to the boundary and the initial distance from the Coast Guard ship.

Despite challenging night conditions, the Coast Guard deployed a smaller boat to recover the discarded narcotics while pursuing the fleeing vessel. Although the smugglers escaped across the IMBL, the ICG team retrieved the 300 kg of suspected methamphetamine after an extensive search. The seized drugs were transported to Porbandar for further investigation by the ATS, the ICG release stated.

This marks the 13th successful collaboration between the Coast Guard and ATS in recent years, highlighting their effective partnership in combating narcotics trafficking, the statement noted.