Ahmedabad: In a significant crackdown on maritime drug trafficking, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and the Indian Coast Guard have recovered 300 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine, valued at approximately ₹1,800 crore. The drugs were dumped into the Arabian Sea by smugglers who fled across the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), officials confirmed on Monday.
The joint operation took place during the night of April 12-13, near the IMBL off Gujarat’s coast. Acting on intelligence provided by the ATS, a Coast Guard vessel was diverted to the area, where it detected a suspicious boat in the pitch-dark sea.
According to the Coast Guard’s statement, upon spotting the approaching patrol vessel, the smugglers hastily jettisoned the drug-laden cargo into the sea and escaped across the IMBL. Despite initiating a chase, the proximity to the international boundary allowed the suspects to evade capture.
Undeterred, the Coast Guard deployed a small recovery craft and successfully retrieved the floating narcotics under challenging night-time conditions. The seized contraband has since been transported to Porbandar for further examination and investigation by the ATS.
This high-stakes operation marks the 13th successful anti-drug initiative resulting from the close collaboration between the Coast Guard and the ATS, underscoring their coordinated efforts to combat transnational smuggling and safeguard national security.
