Boat with 700 kg Drugs seized, 8 'Iranians' Arrested
In a significant drug bust off the coast of Gujarat, authorities have seized over 700 kg of methamphetamine, commonly known as meth, from a boat near Porbandar. The vessel, which was detected near the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), was brought to the port city following an overnight operation at sea. Eight individuals aboard the boat, who have claimed to be Iranian nationals, have been arrested and are currently being questioned.
The intercepted consignment of meth is estimated to be worth between ₹2-5 crore, though its true value remains under investigation. Authorities are also exploring the possibility that Pakistan may be involved in the smuggling operation, with some reports alleging that drugs are being pushed from across the border to finance terrorism-related activities.
This operation is part of Operation Sagar Manthan, a joint effort by Gujarat’s Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), which has previously led to several large drug seizures in the region. Just three weeks ago, narcotics worth ₹250 crore were seized from a warehouse in Ankleshwar, while a past operation uncovered a staggering ₹5,000 crore worth of drugs from another facility in the same district.
Authorities continue to monitor sea routes for suspected drug shipments and are conducting further searches for additional vessels and consignments. Investigations are ongoing to trace the origin and final destination of the seized drugs.
