Narcotics worth Rs 480 crore seized by ICG from Pakistani boat in Arabian Sea

The operation showed well-coordinated efforts between ICG, NCB and ATS Gujrat.

The Indian Coast Guard strategically positioned its ships in the Arabian Sea. (Image: X/@ANI)

Indian Coast Guard: In a joint night operation on the intervening nights of March 11 and 12, 2024, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), acting on intelligence information, arrested a Pakistani boat with six crew members and narcotics on board, worth around Rs 480 crore .

The boat was stopped about 350 km from Porbandar in the Arabian Sea during a naval air coordinated operation involving ICG ships and Dornier aircraft. The operation showed well-coordinated efforts between ICG, NCB and ATS Gujrat.

The Indian Coast Guard, based on specific intelligence inputs from agencies, strategically positioned its ships in the Arabian Sea on Monday, March 11.

ICG also ordered its Dornier aircraft to scan and locate the boat in likely areas. After an extensive search of the area, the ICG ships, with teams from NCB and ATS Gujarat, arrived at the location and positively identified the boat that was moving suspiciously in the dark. When challenged by ICG ships, the boat began to evade, but was deftly pursued and forced to stop by ICG ships.

The boarding team immediately boarded the ship for preliminary checks and investigations.

The boat turned out to be a Pakistani boat with six crew members. A search by the joint boarding team and a rummage of the boat revealed around 80 kg of drugs worth around Rs 480 crore.

The boat and crew have been arrested and are being taken to Porbandar for further investigation. This is the tenth arrest by ICG, along with ATS Gujarat and NCB in the last three years, amounting to 517 kg of narcotics worth Rs 3135 crores.