Gujarat ATS Seizes Rs.3,000 Crore Drugs at Sea

AHMEDABAD: A massive maritime drug haul worth an estimated ₹3,000 crore has exposed an international trafficking network operating across the Arabian Sea, after the Gujarat ATS and Indian Coast Guard seized more than 526 kg of MD drugs and methamphetamine from a suspected Iranian vessel and detained five Pakistani nationals.

The seizure was carried out after Gujarat ATS, central intelligence agencies and other intelligence units shared inputs about a suspicious vessel operating west of Lakshadweep. The Coast Guard tracked the vessel for several days before intercepting and boarding it.

The drugs were allegedly being transported from the Lakshadweep area towards Mumbai as part of a larger trafficking plan. The vessel was intercepted around 160 nautical miles from Lakshadweep and 490 nautical miles from Mumbai.

Gujarat ATS DIG Sunil Joshi said the operation followed intelligence inputs regarding a planned drug transaction. According to the ATS, a Nigerian national had earlier met a Gujarat-based wanted accused in Ahmedabad, where discussions were allegedly held to procure around 500 kg of MD drugs and heroin.

The ATS investigation has also revealed that the payment for the consignment was allegedly arranged in advance through the hawala network. The drugs were reportedly to be transported on an Iranian boat named Azad.

Investigators suspect the traffickers deliberately chose a maritime route after drug-related enforcement intensified in Gujarat. The consignment was allegedly planned to reach Tamil Nadu by sea through Kochi, Lakshadweep and Mumbai.

The operation had been underway for around 15 days, during which several suspicious vessels were intercepted and searched. When the targeted vessel was boarded, the large drug consignment was allegedly found along with five Pakistani nationals.

The detained persons were brought to a jetty in Mumbai, where formal seizure proceedings were initiated. Their interrogation is expected to help investigators trace the wider network behind the consignment.

The ATS is also probing the alleged downstream distribution plan. According to investigators, after the drugs were delivered in Tamil Nadu, a Nigerian national was allegedly scheduled to collect the consignment and take it to Punjab.

A case has been registered by the Gujarat ATS, which will conduct the investigation. Officials are now examining the identities and roles of those involved, the source of the drugs, the financing trail and the intended recipients of the massive consignment.