₹3,000 crore drug haul busted: How Coast Guard tracked Iranian dhow with 5 Pakistani crew

Indian Coast Guard and Gujarat ATS seized around 526 kg of heroin and methamphetamine worth over ₹3,000 crore from an Iranian dhow in the Arabian Sea. Five Pakistani nationals aboard the vessel were apprehended during the high-seas operation west of Lakshadweep.

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG), in a joint operation with the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Gujarat, has seized around 526 kg of narcotics valued at more than ₹3,000 crore in the international market after intercepting an Iranian dhow in the Arabian Sea, Hindustan Times reported, citing officials.

The operation was conducted on September 25 following actionable intelligence about a suspicious vessel operating west of Lakshadweep, the official said.

How Coast Guard tracked Iranian dhow?

The Coast Guard said its teams used coordinated sea-air surveillance to track the suspicious vessel before initiating a hot pursuit and boarding the Iranian dhow, as per the report.

“In a swift and decisive maritime interdiction striking at the heart of transnational narco-terrorism networks, Bharatiya Tatrakshak, operating in seamless tactical synergy with the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Gujarat, successfully neutralised a major maritime narcotics smuggling attempt in the Arabian Sea, west of Lakshadweep,” the Coast Guard said in a statement.

Five Pakistani nationals operating the dhow were apprehended during the high-seas operation, the report said.

The seized contraband included 526 kg of heroin and methamphetamine, according to the Coast Guard.

“The intercepted dhow, crew, and seized contraband have been escorted under armed escort to Mumbai for joint interrogation and comprehensive multi-agency legal proceedings,” the Coast Guard said, as cited in the report.

The vessel, its crew and the seized narcotics were subsequently brought to Mumbai under armed security for further investigation and legal proceedings.

The operation was carried out jointly by the Indian Coast Guard and Gujarat ATS based on intelligence inputs.

The Coast Guard said the operation demonstrated its maritime surveillance and interdiction capabilities and reaffirmed its focus on preventing illicit activities across India's maritime domain.

It also said the seizure would help disrupt the financial networks involved in international narcotics trafficking and prevent synthetic drugs from reaching the Indian mainland.

The latest interception comes amid continued efforts by Indian maritime and law-enforcement agencies to detect narcotics trafficking through the Arabian Sea.

In April 2025, the Coast Guard and Gujarat ATS seized 307.5 kg of narcotics off the Gujarat coast in another joint operation, according to the Coast Guard's official record of interdiction cases.

Agencies have increasingly relied on intelligence inputs, vessel surveillance and coordination between maritime and land-based enforcement units to identify and intercept suspected drug consignments in the Arabian Sea.

The Coast Guard said the operation highlights its strengthened maritime surveillance capabilities and continued efforts to prevent illicit activities across India’s maritime zones.

The agency said the seizure would also help disrupt the financial networks linked to narcotics trafficking and stop synthetic drugs from reaching the Indian mainland.

About the Author

Bhanu Pratap is a journalist who reports and writes on foreign affairs, India’s foreign policy, geopolitics and strategic affairs. He closely follows diplomatic developments in New Delhi and has a keen interest in defence and national security.<br> <br> Bhanu also focuses on in-depth, interview-based reports and regularly speaking with experts and policymakers to bring perspectives and context to major developments around the world.<br> <br> He is also interested in stories with strong humanitarian angles.<br><br> One such report examined the cases of Indian nationals who were allegedly recruited and forced into Russia’s war against Ukraine. While reporting the story, Bhanu spoke to the families of those affected and documented their experiences. The report was later taken into account by the United Nations in its findings on human rights violations linked to the war in Ukraine.<br> <br> For Bhanu, the zeal to produce meaningful and impactful journalism remains at the heart of his work.<br> <br>He has previously worked with Firstpost, NDTV, Newslaundry and Republic.<br><br> Bhanu studied at the Delhi School of Journalism, University of Delhi. He initially chose science with plans to pursue engineering, influenced by conventional expectations, but fate had other plans and eventually led him to journalism.<br><br> Beyond the newsroom, Bhanu enjoys exploring culture and history and often spends his days off on heritage walks. He is also passionate about travelling, biking and listening to folk music.<br> <br>For tips, reviews and suggestions, you can reach him at bhanu.pratap@htdigital.in.

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