Indian Coast Guard seizes drugs worth over ₹3,000 crore in Arabian Sea; 5 Pakistanis held

The Indian Coast Guard, in a joint intelligence-led operation with Gujarat ATS and the Central Intelligence Agency, has seized 526 kg of heroin and methamphetamine worth over ₹3,000 crore from an Iranian dhow in the Arabian Sea.

Five Pakistani crew members were also apprehended during the operation, the Coast Guard said in a post on X on Wednesday.

The suspicious dhow was intercepted west of Lakshadweep following positive detection and sustained tracking, the Coast Guard said.

A hot pursuit culminated in tactical boarding of the vessel and seizure of the narcotics, it said.

"The operation resulted in the seizure of 526 kg of high-grade heroin and methamphetamine valued at over Rs 3,000 crore, alongside the apprehension of five Pakistani crew members," the Coast Guard said.

The apprehended vessel and its crew have been escorted to Mumbai, where multi-agency investigations will be carried out, followed by prosecution, it said.

The operation was aimed at disrupting a transnational drug-smuggling network, according to the Coast Guard.

The maritime force said it remains committed to securing India's maritime borders and dismantling drug syndicates involved in transnational organised crime.