Indian Security Forces Seize 86kg of Heroin Worth ₹600 Crore from Pakistani Boat

In a major drug bust, Indian security agencies seized 86kg of suspected heroin worth approximately ₹600 crore from a Pakistani fishing boat off the Gujarat coast near Porbandar on Sunday. The joint operation was carried out by the Indian Coast Guard, Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), resulting in the arrest of 14 Pakistani nationals on board the vessel.

The operation was launched based on intelligence inputs about a Pakistani drug lord, Haji Aslam alias Babu Baloch, attempting to smuggle mephedrone drugs from Karachi port using a fishing trawler. The Coast Guard ship Rajratan played a vital role in identifying and intercepting the suspect boat in the Arabian Sea. "The Pakistani nationals tried to evade arrest by attempting to run their boat over the ATS officials, who then opened fire, injuring one crew member," a senior official involved in the operation said.

According to investigators, the seized drugs were planned to be transported to Tamil Nadu via an Indian boat, with the final delivery to a drug lord in Sri Lanka. The 86kg of suspected heroin was found in 78 packets on the Pakistani fishing boat. The arrested crew members, all hailing from Balochistan, Pakistan, are being held to Porbandar for further investigation.

Why this matters: This successful joint operation highlights the strong coordination between Indian security agencies in combating drug smuggling activities. It marks a significant blow to international drug trafficking networks operating in the region.

This is the eleventh such successful operation by the ICG, ATS Gujarat, and NCB in the last three years, amounting to around 600 kg of narcotics worth at least ₹3,700 crore. "The synergy between the Indian Coast Guard, ATS, and NCB in conducting such law enforcement operations is commendable," a senior NCB official stated. The agencies remain committed to disrupting drug smuggling attempts and ensuring national security along India's maritime borders.

Key Takeaways

• 86kg of suspected heroin worth ₹600 crore seized from Pakistani boat off Gujarat
• 14 Pakistani nationals arrested in joint operation by Indian Coast Guard, ATS, and NCB
• Drugs were to be transported to Tamil Nadu and then to Sri Lanka drug lord
• This is the 11th such successful operation in 3 years, totaling 600kg narcotics worth ₹3,700 crore
• Operation highlights strong coordination between Indian agencies in combating drug smuggling