New Delhi : In a major anti-narcotics operation, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) jointly intercepted a massive consignment of illegal drugs off the country’s western coast, recovering over 300 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine valued at approximately ₹1,800 crore.
The joint operation, which unfolded overnight between April 12 and 13, was launched based on actionable intelligence provided by the Gujarat ATS. An ICG vessel operating off the North Maharashtra and South Gujarat coast was swiftly redirected to intercept a suspicious vessel near the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).
Despite the challenges of a pitch-dark night, the Coast Guard team was able to spot the target vessel. On noticing the Indian forces approaching, the suspect boat attempted to escape, dumping its illicit cargo into the sea before fleeing toward international waters.
In response, the Coast Guard deployed a smaller sea boat to retrieve the discarded consignment while simultaneously engaging in a high-speed pursuit of the fleeing vessel. However, the suspects managed to cross the IMBL before they could be apprehended, forcing the Coast Guard to call off the chase due to jurisdictional limitations.
ICG successfully recovered a substantial amount of the narcotics
Despite the suspects escaping, the ICG successfully recovered a substantial amount of the narcotics dumped in the water under challenging nighttime conditions. The confiscated consignment has since been transported to Porbandar for further examination and legal proceedings.
This operation marks the 13th successful collaboration between the Indian Coast Guard and the Gujarat ATS in recent years, highlighting the strong coordination between maritime and law enforcement agencies in tackling transnational crimes.
