Indian Coast Guard and Gujarat ATS intercept 300 kgs of narcotics worth approx. Rs 1,800 Cr

"Based on a corroborated input from Gujarat ATS, an ICG ship from the Coast Guard Region (West), which was on multi-mission deployment off North Maharashtra/ South Gujarat area, diverted and intercepted an attempted transshipment in proximity of the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL)," read a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence.

"On realising the approaching ICG ship, the suspect boat dumped its narcotics consignment in sea before it started fleeing towards the IMBL," read a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence.

The alert ICG ship deployed its sea boat immediately for recovery of the jettisoned consignment whilst commencing a hot chase of the suspect boat.

The proximity of IMBL and the initial separation between the ICG ship and the boat at the time of its detection helped the perpetrator to evade interception before it crossed over the IMBL within a short time.

The crossover resulted in the termination of the hot chase and precluded the ICG ship to apprehend the suspect boat.

Meanwhile, the ICG team in a sea-boat, after a thorough search in the tough night conditions, recovered the sizable amount of narcotics that was dumped into the sea.

The Ministry of Defence said the seized narcotics had been brought to Porbandar by the ICG ship for further investigations.

"The jointness of ICG and Gujarat ATS, which has led to 13 such successful law enforcement operations in recent years reaffirms the synergy for national objectives," the Indian government said in a statement.