Hummingbird News Desk
NEW DELHI, 15 APRIL: A total of eight Pakistani nationals were apprehended from a boat near the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) off Jakhau coast in Kutch of Gujarat with 30 kilogram of heroin on the intervening night of 14 and 15 April in a joint operation by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and Indian Coast Guard (ICG).
According to officials, a Pakistani boat ‘NUH’ was captured by the Indian security forces almost 40 nautical miles off the Jakhau coast.
As per statement of the defence ministry, an input was received on 13 April regarding suspected narcotics trafficking by Pak boat off Indo-Pak notional international maritime boundary line (IMBL). Upon receiving the input, a coordinated operation was jointly launched by ICG and ATS Gujarat.
The fast interceptor boat of ICG with ATS officials was deployed to intercept the suspected Pak boat. On the midnight of 14-15 April, the suspected Pak boat was sighted inside Indian waters and intercepted by ICG.
On boarding and rummaging, about 30 packets of Heroin weighing approximately one kg each were recovered from the boat. The value of seized narcotics in international market is estimated to be around Rs 300 crore. Preliminary investigations revealed that the consignment being smuggled was destined for landing on Gujarat shore. The boat along with eight Pakistani crews is being escorted to Jakhau for further search and joint investigation.
It may be recalled that on 18 March, ICG had apprehended SLB Ravihansi with about 300 kgs of heroin, five AK-47 rifles and 1,000 rounds of ammunition off Lakshadweep Island, which was suspected to have originated from Makran coast. Prior to this, ICG had successfully 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.
In the past one year, ICG has successfully seized more than 1.6 tons of narcotics worth approximately Rs 5,200 crore.
Image: @PIB
