The Indian Coast Guard, in an overnight joint operation with the Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) of Gujarat, has seized a Pakistani fishing boat off the coast of Gujarat with six people carrying 77 kilograms of heroin worth approximately Rs 400 crore.
The boat named 'Al Huseini' was seized in India waters with the contraband substance and has been brought to Jakhau port on the Gulf of Kutch for further investigation.
As narcotics trafficking by Pakistan off the Indo-Pak Notional International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) witnessed an alarming increase, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has successfully seized tons of drugs worth thousands of crore in the past 12 months.
The @IndiaCoastGuard in a joint Ops with ATS #Gujarat has apprehended one Pak Fishing Boat "Al Huseini" with 06 crew in Indian🇮🇳 waters carrying 77 kgs #heroin worth approx 400 crs
Boat brought to Jakhau for further investigation@PMO_NaMo @NIA_India @AjaybhattBJP4UK @ANI pic.twitter.com/W3Ahfb33vu
— PRO Defence Gujarat (@DefencePRO_Guj) December 20, 2021
Last month, the Gujarat ATS had seized 120 kg of heroin worth Rs 600 crore from three people who had received the consignment from a Pakistani boat.
In April, a Pakistani boat 'NUH' was apprehended off Jakhau coast with 30 kgs of heroin and eight Pakistani nationals were arrested.
Most of the seized consignments being smuggled were destined for landing on Gujarat shore.
In March, the ICG had apprehended SLB Ravihansi with about 300 kgs of heroin, five AK-47 rifles and 1000 rounds of ammunition off Lakshadweep Island, which was suspected to have originated from Makran coast.
The Makran coast, which lies in the territories of Pakistan and Iran in the Balochistan region, is considered to be a major port of origin for Afghan Heroin.
Prior to this, ICG had apprehended SLB Akarsha Duwa which admitted of carrying 200 kgs of high-grade heroin and 60 kgs Hashish and jettisoning it at sea on sighting of ICG ships on patrol.
Last week, the Sri Lanka Navy seized a fishing vessel off the country's southern coast and arrested five Pakistanis who were attempting to smuggle 250 kg of heroin estimated to be worth $12 million.
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