Five Pakistanis Detained After ₹3,000 Crore Drug Haul Seized From Iranian Boat

The Indian Coast Guard, in a joint operation with the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), has seized 526 kg of methamphetamine and heroin worth more than Rs 3,000 crore from an Iranian dhow in the Arabian Sea, officials said on Wednesday. Five Pakistani nationals found operating the vessel were also detained during the operation, which was carried out west of Lakshadweep on September 25. The seized drugs, vessel and crew were later escorted to Mumbai for further investigation and legal proceedings.

According to the Coast Guard, the operation was launched after intelligence agencies provided information about a suspicious vessel believed to be involved in maritime drug trafficking. Coast Guard units used coordinated sea and air surveillance to locate and track the dhow. After maintaining surveillance, the units launched a hot pursuit before intercepting and boarding the vessel west of Lakshadweep. A search of the Iranian-flagged or Iranian vessel led to the recovery of the large consignment of narcotics, which officials described as high-grade methamphetamine and heroin.

The five Pakistani nationals aboard the vessel were taken into custody following the interception. Their identities have not been publicly disclosed, and authorities have not yet released details about their alleged roles in the suspected smuggling operation. The vessel, its crew and the seized contraband were brought to Mumbai under armed escort, where multiple agencies are expected to question the detained individuals and examine possible links to a wider international drug-trafficking network. Further details about the source of the drugs, their intended destination and potential recipients are expected to emerge during the investigation.

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The estimated value of the seized narcotics is more than Rs 3,000 crore in the international illicit market. The seizure included a substantial quantity of methamphetamine, a synthetic stimulant, along with heroin. Authorities are examining the consignment as part of a suspected transnational trafficking operation using maritime routes to move illegal drugs toward India. The operation highlights the role of the Arabian Sea in ongoing efforts by Indian enforcement agencies to monitor vessels and intercept contraband before it reaches the mainland.

The Coast Guard said the operation demonstrated its ability to combine intelligence inputs with maritime and aerial surveillance to identify and intercept suspicious vessels. It said such seizures can disrupt the financial networks supporting international drug-trafficking organisations and prevent synthetic drugs from entering India. The force has a specific mandate to assist customs and other law-enforcement agencies in countering smuggling through sea routes and coordinates with central and state agencies for maritime interdiction operations.

The latest seizure comes amid continued efforts by Indian security and enforcement agencies to tackle international narcotics trafficking through maritime routes. The Gujarat ATS has previously participated in joint Coast Guard operations involving large drug seizures in the Arabian Sea. In the latest case, the investigation is continuing in Mumbai, with authorities expected to establish the wider network allegedly connected to the consignment and determine how the drugs were intended to enter or move through India.

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