New Delhi: In a major joint operation spanning over two days, the Indian Coast Guard seized a fishing boat in the Arabian Sea which was allegedly involved in the smuggling of around 173 kg narcotics on Sunday.
Notably, this was second operation carried out by the ICG on Sunday, which resulted in the seizure of huge amounts of narcotics.
Prior to this, in an intelligence-based anti-narcotics operation, the Indian Coast Guard seized narcotics worth Rs 600 crore from a Pakistani boat named 'Al-Raza' and apprehended 14 crew members who belonged to Balochistan.
In the second operation, acting on the specific and credible intelligence inputs from ATS Gujarat, ICG deployed its ships and aircraft in the of sea, ensuring that the boat does not evade the sea-air coordinated surveillance by ICG.
After positively identifying the suspect boat, it was swiftly intercepted.
The investigations confirmed the intelligence inputs and the fishing boat was found to be involved in smuggling of around 173 kg of drugs.
Further investigation of the crew involved is underway, the ICG said.
"This Operation is the 12th apprehension by ICG over last three years and is a testimony of coordination and success of joint efforts of ICG and ATS Gujarat for appropriate response to drug trafficking through seas," the statement added. (ANI)
