Lagatar24 Desk
Porbandar: In a significant anti-drug operation, authorities seized a boat carrying over 700 kg of methamphetamine near Gujarat’s Porbandar after a mid-sea operation on Friday. Eight individuals aboard the vessel, claiming to be Iranian nationals, were arrested.
The joint operation, codenamed Operation Sagar Manthan, was carried out by the Gujarat Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). The suspects are being interrogated to trace the source of the drugs and their intended destination.
Massive Seizure Off the IMBL
The boat was intercepted near the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), separating Indian waters from international seas. It was subsequently escorted to Porbandar for further investigation. Officials estimate the consignment’s value to range between ₹2-5 crore.
The operation is part of a broader effort to curb narcotics smuggling via sea routes. Officials are searching for other vessels potentially involved in similar activities.
Investigations Underway
Authorities suspect Pakistan’s involvement in the drug shipment, citing past instances where drugs were trafficked across the border to fund terrorist activities.
“Details about the source and destination of the drugs are being investigated. The possibility of more consignments and involvement of a larger network cannot be ruled out,” said an official.
History of Drug Seizures in Gujarat
This is not the first high-profile drug seizure in Gujarat. Recently, narcotics worth over ₹250 crore were seized from Avsar Enterprise in Ankleshwar, Bharuch district. Earlier, a similar operation uncovered drugs worth ₹5,000 crore at Aavkar Drugs Limited in the same district.
