₹1,800cr worth of narcotics seized off Gujarat Coast by ATS and Coast Guard

The ATS and the Coast Guard conducted a joint operation in the Arabian Sea off Gujarat, around the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).

Massive Drug Haul Near International Waters

In a joint operation, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) seized 300 kg of methamphetamine valued at ₹1,800 crore near the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) off the Gujarat coast, officials confirmed.

Smugglers Flee After Dumping Drugs at Sea

According to a senior Gujarat ATS official, the narcotics were allegedly smuggled from Pakistan and dumped into the sea by suspects aboard a fishing boat. The smugglers panicked after spotting Indian patrol forces half a mile inside Indian waters and fled across the boundary into Pakistani waters to avoid capture.

The entire consignment was successfully recovered and has been handed over to the ATS for further investigation.

Also read: Gujarat man with ₹12 bank balance gets IT notice for ₹36cr transactions

Gujarat Home Minister Hails Operation

Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi shared the update on his official X (formerly Twitter) account. He praised the inter-agency collaboration, stating:

“This operation demonstrates the effectiveness of inter-agency collaboration in combating drug smuggling, similar to previous joint operations by Indian Coast Guard, NCB, and ATS that have resulted in significant seizures.”

Part of Ongoing Crackdown on Coastal Drug Trafficking

This latest bust is part of India’s broader efforts to combat drug trafficking along Gujarat’s 1,600-km coastline, which is particularly vulnerable due to its strategic maritime location. Past operations involving the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), ATS, and Indian Coast Guard have already led to multiple significant narcotics seizures.