Indian Coast Guard Seizes 526 Kg of Narcotics Worth Rs 3,000 Crore in Arabian Sea

The Indian Coast Guard, working alongside the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), has intercepted an Iranian dhow in the Arabian Sea and seized around 526 kg of narcotics estimated to be worth more than ₹3,000 crore in the international market, officials said. The operation was conducted on September 25 based on specific intelligence inputs. The seized consignment reportedly included heroin and methamphetamine. Five Pakistani nationals who were allegedly operating the vessel were taken into custody.

According to the Coast Guard, its teams carried out coordinated surveillance using both maritime and aerial assets after identifying the suspicious dhow. The vessel was tracked before Coast Guard personnel launched a pursuit and boarded it at sea. Following the interception, the dhow, its crew and the recovered narcotics were taken to Mumbai under armed escort. The suspects and seized material will undergo joint interrogation as investigators work to determine the wider network and intended destination of the consignment.

The operation was carried out in coordination with the Gujarat ATS as part of ongoing efforts to identify and disrupt international maritime drug-trafficking networks operating through the Arabian Sea. Indian maritime and law-enforcement agencies have stepped up surveillance of sea routes that are suspected to be used for transporting illegal narcotics. Intelligence sharing, aerial and sea-based monitoring, and coordinated operations between agencies have become important elements of these interdiction efforts.

The latest seizure follows previous operations involving the Coast Guard and Gujarat ATS. In April 2025, the two agencies jointly intercepted a vessel off the Gujarat coast and recovered 307.5 kg of narcotics, according to the Coast Guard's records. Authorities said the latest operation highlights the importance of sustained maritime surveillance in detecting suspicious vessels and preventing illegal consignments from reaching Indian shores. The seized drugs and detained crew members have been brought to Mumbai, where further investigation and legal proceedings are underway.