Heroin worth Rs 280cr seized from Pakistani boat off Gujarat

New Delhi: The Indian Coast Guard, in a joint operation with Anti-Terrorism Squad Gujarat early on Monday, apprehended a Pakistani boat ‘Al Haj’ in Indian waters of the Arabian sea.
There were nine crew members and 56kg heroin worth approximately Rs 280 crore being shipped. The boat was brought to Jakhau for further investigation, the Coast Guard said. “During the midnight of 24/25 Apr 22, Indian Coast Guard Ships sighted the suspicious moving boat approx 05 nautical Mile inside Indian waters. “ICG ships closed (in on) the vessel and directed her to stop for investigation. However, on being challenged the vessel threw some bundles in water and started to flee. “On suspicion, the ICG ship immediately recovered the floating bundles from the sea which were confirmed to be narcotics,” the Coast Guard said in a statement. After making an initial dash, warning shots were fired the boat stopped, it said. ICG crew then boarded the vessel and apprehended the crew. “The boat was towed by ICG ship as primary evidence involved in illegal transshipment of narcotics. The boat was towed to Jakhau where all security agencies will undertake a joint investigation to further establish facts,” ICG said. The Indian Coast Guard has made total seizures worth Rs 12,206 crores of contraband and narcotics since inception, it said.