Six Pakistanis Sentenced To 20 Years In Rs 384-Crore Heroin Seizure Case
Six Pakistanis jailed in Rs 384 crore heroin bust case
A special Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) court in Bhuj has sentenced six Pakistani nationals to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment each in a major heroin smuggling case involving drugs worth Rs 384 crore.
The judgment, delivered on Friday, April 24, 2026, concludes a high-profile investigation that began over four years ago. On December 20, 2021, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), acting on precise intelligence, collaborated with the Indian Coast Guard to intercept a Pakistani fishing boat named Al Husseini approximately 35 nautical miles off the Jakhau coast in the Arabian Sea. A search revealed 76.936 kg of heroin hidden in five large bags, marking one of Gujarat's largest maritime drug seizures.
All six crew members, residents of Karachi, Pakistan, were arrested on the spot. Identified as Mohammad Imran Mohammad Tariq Vaghera, Danish Mohammad Hussain Kachchi Vaghera, Sagar Mohammad Kachchi Vaghera, Ismail Ibrahim Badala, Mohammad Sajid Mohammad Hussain Yakublala Kungra, and Ashfaq Mohammad Ishaq Vaghera, they faced charges under Sections 8(c), 22(c), 25, and 29 of the NDPS Act for smuggling and conspiracy.
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In addition to the prison terms, the court imposed a fine of Rs 2 lakh on each convict, emphasizing the severe threat drug trafficking poses to India's youth and national security. The operation highlighted vulnerabilities along the Gujarat coastline, a known route for cross-border smuggling amid tense India-Pakistan relations.
This verdict underscores India's intensified crackdown on narco-terrorism networks operating from Pakistan, with Gujarat emerging as a focal point due to its 1,600-km shoreline. Similar cases have seen other Pakistani nationals convicted in recent years, reflecting coordinated efforts by ATS and Coast Guard to disrupt heroin flows linked to international cartels.
Authorities continue to probe potential larger syndicates behind such operations, as maritime smuggling remains a persistent challenge. The Bhuj court's ruling serves as a deterrent, reinforcing judicial resolve against drug syndicates exploiting regional fishing routes.
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