Guwahati: The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) said that they had seized 350 crore rupees worth of heroin from a Pakistani boat off the state’s coast on Saturday.
Six crew members from the boat Al Sakar were also detained by the ICG and ATS in a joint operation in Indian waters not far from the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) in the Arabian Sea.
The boat is being further investigated at the port Jakhau in Gujarat.
The Indian Coast Guard tweeted, “In a joint Ops with ATS #Gujarat, @IndiaCoastGuard apprehended #Pakistani Boat Al Sakar with 06 crew in Indian waters of #ArabianSea carrying about 50 Kgs heroin worth approx 350 Cr. Boat being brought to #Jakhau for further investigation.”
This operation, which ICG and ATS have carried out twice in the past month, marks the sixth of its kind over the past year, demonstrating the strength of India’s coastal security infrastructure.
The ICG arrested a Pakistani boat called Al Tayyasa with six crew members who were transporting about 40 kg of heroin worth Rs 200 crore in Indian waters last month.
Defense Ministry representatives were informed that, based on specific intelligence input, the ICG strategically positioned two rapid interceptor classes of ships, C-408 and C-454, for patrolling in areas near the hypothetical IMBL during the intervening night of September 13 and 14.
The boat was seized approximately six kilometres into Indian waters.