By: Suman Sharma

After last fortnight’s apprehension of a boat carrying illegally smuggled betel nuts, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) recently busted a major narcotics racket on the high seas. In an overnight operation on 12-13 April 2025, the ICG undertook an intelligence based anti-narcotics operation at sea jointly with the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). More than 300 kg of narcotics worth approximately Rs 1800 crore has been seized. The seized drugs are suspected to be methamphetamine.

The operation was a perfect example of inter-agency coordination wherein 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 and South Gujarat area, diverted and intercepted an attempted transshipment in proximity of the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) prior to being undertaken, thus leading to the successful operation.

Based on the credible intelligence input from the ATS, the ICG ship identified a suspect boat despite pitch darkness. On realising the approaching ICG ship, the suspect boat dumped its narcotics consignment in sea before it started fleeing towards the IMBL.

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 termination of the hot chase and precluded the ICG ship to apprehend the suspect boat. Meanwhile the ICG team in sea-boat, after thorough search in the tough night conditions, recovered the sizeable amount narcotics that was dumped into sea.

The seized narcotics has been brought to Porbandar by the ICG ship for further investigations. The jointness of ICG and ATS, which has led to 13 such successful law enforcement operations in recent years reaffirms the synergy for national objective.

Last week, in a swift and well-coordinated maritime operation, the ICG successfully intercepted and apprehended Indian Fishing Boat (IFB)-‘Maa Basanti’ (Registration No: IND-WB-DS-MM-10023) approximately 72 nautical miles from Sagar Light, within the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Upon boarding and inspection, the vessel was found to be carrying approximately 400–450 gunny bags suspected of illegal smuggling of betel nuts, with each bag weighing an estimated 50 to 60 kilograms. The total weight of the consignment is currently under verification. A total of 14 crew members were present on board at the time of the apprehension.

Following standard procedures, Maa Basanti was escorted to Paradip Port by the ICG Ship. The vessel and its crew have been handed over to the Customs authorities for further investigation and necessary legal action.

This operation highlights the Indian Coast Guard’s continued vigilance and commitment towards safeguarding the nation’s maritime interests and preventing illegal activities within India’s maritime domain.