Gujarat ATS Busts Iranian Speedboat with 203 Kg Illegal Chemicals
ATS and the Coast Guard seize 203 kg of suspected chemicals and arrest two Iranians.
Two Iranian nationals were arrested, and more than 200 kg of suspected illegal chemical substance was seized after the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad intercepted an Iranian speedboat near the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), about 140 nautical miles off the Porbandar coast, officials said Tuesday. The operation was conducted jointly with the Indian Coast Guard following specific intelligence inputs. Authorities described the seizure as part of a planned mid-sea smuggling attempt. Investigations into the network behind the consignment are currently underway. The incident has heightened maritime security vigilance in the region.
According to officials, ATS Superintendent of Police K. K. Patel received intelligence that an Iranian smuggler identified as Haji Fida had dispatched a consignment from Iran’s Konarak Port. The shipment was allegedly meant for mid-sea transfer to an Indian vessel, with Punjab identified as the final destination. Based on inputs that the consignment would enter Indian waters between February 15 and 16, agencies mounted a coordinated interception plan. The intelligence was promptly shared with the Coast Guard. Teams were strategically deployed near Porbandar to monitor suspicious movement.
On Monday night around 8 pm, the joint team intercepted the suspicious speedboat within Indian waters. Two Iranian nationals, identified as Abdul Majid and Abdul Sattar, both residents of Chabahar in Iran’s Konarak region, were detained on board. Officials said the vessel was thoroughly searched following the interception. The operation was carried out without incident. The suspects are currently in custody for further questioning.
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During the search, authorities recovered 203 packets of a suspected chemical substance weighing approximately 203 kg. The boat, along with the seized material and the accused, was brought to the Coast Guard station at Porbandar. Officials said the substance has been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory for detailed analysis. Legal proceedings have been initiated under relevant laws. Further investigation is in progress to determine the nature of the substance and the wider smuggling network.
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