Nine Iranians held with 100 kg heroin off Gujarat coast

In a joint mid-sea operation off Porbandar coast by Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Marine Task Force and Indian Coast Guard (ICG), 100 kg of heroin was seized while nine suspected smugglers were apprehended on Wednesday early morning. The drug is suspected to have originated from Pakistan and was to be supplied to a receiver in Gujarat.

The ATS officials had received information about a consignment of narcotics drugs was going to be smuggled in Gujarat through the sea. It was also revealed that consignment was to be smuggled in a dhow of Iran, which will be loaded in Pakistan.

Following the tip-off, ATS officers contacted Indian Coast Guard and Marine Task Force and launched a joint operation to catch the smugglers. The officers of ATS boarded ICG’s Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) and search operation was started. Officials said that the commandos of Marine Task Force were kept in boats in territorial waters to help in the operation.

“The information was limited and only communication frequency was known to identify the smuggler’s boat. After more than 24 hours of search, a suspicious boat was identified while making attempt to communicate in the particular frequency,” ATS officials said.

Once was the boat was in site, ICG ship directed the suspected boat to halt. But the boat made desperate attempts to run away. The ICG’s ship started chasing the boat.

“When apprehension became inevitable, its crew set the boat ablaze to destroy the evidence. Officers and personnel of ICG Ship along-with ATS Officers made high risk to rescue nine smugglers from the smuggler’s boat, and successfully apprehended them,” they said.

Nearly 100 kg of heroin was seized from the smuggler’s boat. The ICG ship tried to extinguish the fire, but due to the presence of 24,000 ltrs of fuel and few gas cylinders, the fire could not be controlled and eventually, the boat sank. Officials said that the receiver of the boat in Gujarat has also been identified who will be arrested soon.

“The interrogation of nine Iranian nationals revealed one Pakistani national Hamid Malek had sent the consignment, which was loaded in the Iranian boat off Gwadar port of Pakistan. The total value of the contraband as per international value is estimated to be Rs 500 crores.”