526 Kg of Drugs Worth Over ₹3,000 Crore Seized in Arabian Sea; Five Arrested
A joint operation involving the Indian Coast Guard, Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad and central intelligence agencies has seized approximately 526 kg of heroin and methamphetamine from an Iranian dhow in the Arabian Sea, officials said.
The narcotics are estimated to be worth more than ₹3,000 crore in the international market. Five Pakistani nationals operating the vessel were arrested, and the boat, crew and seized drugs were escorted to Mumbai under armed security for questioning and further legal proceedings.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday praised the operation, saying investigations were underway to identify the wider smuggling network and the consignment’s intended recipients.
A 16-Day Operation, a Sea-Air Pursuit
According to the Coast Guard, the interception took place on September 25 following actionable intelligence. Personnel conducted coordinated sea and air surveillance, tracked the suspicious vessel and launched a hot pursuit before boarding it.
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Shah said the operation lasted 16 days and placed the interception within India’s exclusive economic zone, approximately 160 nautical miles northwest of Lakshadweep and 490 nautical miles southwest of Mumbai.
The Iranian dhow was seized along with the narcotics.
Shah Praises Agency Coordination
“Modi govt. is determined to shield its youth from the scourge of drugs,” Shah said in a post on X.
He credited Gujarat ATS, the Coast Guard and central intelligence agencies for the seizure, describing the operation as an example of coordination and cooperation.
“Five Pakistani nationals have been arrested, with further investigation underway to identify the wider network and its intended receivers,” he said.
The estimated value of the consignment reflects its international market valuation, according to officials.
Investigators Seek Network Behind Consignment
The investigation now centres on tracing the wider network behind the shipment and establishing who was meant to receive the drugs.
The apprehended crew, seized vessel and contraband were brought to Mumbai for joint interrogation and legal action. Officials have not identified the intended recipients in the information released so far.
The seizure forms part of continuing efforts to disrupt suspected transnational drug-smuggling networks using maritime routes in the Arabian Sea.
In April 2025, a separate joint operation by the Coast Guard and Gujarat ATS seized 307.5 kg of narcotics off the Gujarat coast, according to the Coast Guard’s official record of interdiction cases.
The latest operation again combined intelligence inputs, vessel surveillance and coordination between maritime and land-based enforcement agencies to intercept a suspected consignment at sea.
With inputs from ANI