Gandhinagar, April 14 (NationPress) Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) alongside the Indian Coast Guard successfully intercepted and confiscated over 300 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine, valued at approximately Rs 1,800 crore, from the Arabian Sea close to the Indian Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).

This collaborative operation, which took place between the night of April 12 and the early hours of April 13, was initiated based on actionable intelligence concerning suspicious activities off the Gujarat coast, an area increasingly becoming a central front in India’s battle against drugs.

As per an official statement from the Coast Guard, the operation was executed by a rapid-response patrol vessel that approached the suspected site after receiving alerts from central intelligence agencies. Upon noticing the approaching security vessel, the smugglers, thought to be operating a fishing boat from foreign waters, discarded the drug-laden cargo into the sea and quickly fled towards the IMBL, likely to escape capture. Divers and crew members were subsequently deployed in a careful recovery operation under challenging night conditions, successfully retrieving several large packages suspected to contain high-grade methamphetamine.

The confiscated drugs have been transferred to the Gujarat ATS, which has initiated a comprehensive investigation to uncover the network behind this operation.

Gujarat's Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi, in a post on X, praised the joint effort of the Gujarat ATS and the Indian Coast Guard.

“During the night of April 12-13, 2025, they seized 300 kg of narcotics valued at Rs 1800 crore off the IMBL near the Gujarat coast. The consignment was recovered at sea, and the ATS is conducting further inquiries. This successful operation highlights the robust inter-agency synergy in the fight against drug smuggling. - Operation Details: Joint operation by Gujarat ATS and Indian Coast Guard on April 12-13, 2025 - Seizure: 300 kg narcotics worth Rs 1800 crore - Location: Off IMBL near Gujarat coast - Investigation: ATS conducting further investigation,” Sanghavi noted on his X handle.

He added, “This operation showcased the effectiveness of inter-agency collaboration in tackling drug smuggling, similar to previous joint operations involving the Indian Coast Guard, NCB, and ATS that have led to significant seizures.”

The Indian Coast Guard also confirmed that the large consignment was seized off the IMBL near the Gujarat coast. “The consignment was recovered at sea, and the ATS is conducting further investigation. This successful operation illustrates the strong inter-agency synergy in the fight against drug smuggling,” stated the ICG in a post on its official X handle.

The Gujarat coastline, extending 1,640 kilometers -- the longest among all Indian states -- presents a significant surveillance challenge. With remote creeks, tidal inlets, and fishing harbors, especially in the Kutch region, this area creates ideal conditions for traffickers trying to infiltrate Indian waters undetected. Its proximity to the infamous ‘Golden Crescent’ -- a major global drug-producing area spanning Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan -- positions it at the heart of narcotics smuggling routes entering the Indian subcontinent.

Recently, Gujarat has become a crucial battleground in India’s fight against narcotics trafficking, with several high-profile seizures in the past highlighting the state’s vulnerabilities.

One of the most notable operations occurred in February 2024, when Indian authorities intercepted an Iranian fishing vessel off the Gujarat coast, confiscating a record-breaking 3,300 kg of narcotics. Valued at over Rs 20,000 crore, it represented the largest offshore drug bust in Indian history and underscored the use of foreign vessels in deep-sea smuggling activities. Just months earlier, in November 2024, officials seized 700 kg of methamphetamine from another Iranian ship in the Arabian Sea. The drugs were concealed in sealed plastic containers and transferred mid-sea, indicating a sophisticated, well-coordinated supply chain.

The estimated value of these drugs exceeded Rs 4,000 crore. Investigators believed the consignment originated from Pakistan or Iran and was intended for local distribution in India. In April 2024, Indian law enforcement recovered 173 kg of hashish from a fishing boat near Porbandar. Unlike previous seizures involving foreign ships, this case involved an Indian vessel believed to be working for a Pakistan-based syndicate. Officials discovered that smugglers were increasingly using Indian nationals to receive mid-sea shipments to lessen suspicion.

The narcotics smuggling issue through Gujarat gained national attention in September 2021 with a massive seizure of 2,988 kg of heroin at Mundra Port in Kutch. The heroin, shipped from Afghanistan and routed through Iran, was hidden in containers labeled as talcum powder. Valued at Rs 21,000 crore, it was one of the largest heroin busts globally, raising significant concerns about port security and surveillance.