Gandhinagar, April 14: In a major crackdown, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and the Indian Coast Guard have seized over 300 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine from the Arabian Sea near the Indian Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).
The value of the seized drugs in the illegal market is estimated to around Rs 1,800 crore.
As per reports, the joint operation was conducted in the intervening night of April 12 and April 13, after authorities received specific information about suspicious activity near the Gujarat coast.
According to the Coast Guard, the operation used a fast patrol boat that quickly moved to the area after getting a tip-off from central intelligence agencies.
Upon seeing the security forces, the smugglers, believed to be using a fishing boat from another country, threw the drug-filled packages into the sea and sped away toward the Indian Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) to avoid getting caught.
Despite the tough conditions at night, divers and crew members carefully searched the area and managed to recover several large packages, suspected to contain high-quality methamphetamine.
The seized drugs have been handed over to the Gujarat ATS, which has started a detailed investigation to find out who is behind the smuggling operation.
Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi praised the joint effort on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), calling it a commendable operation by the Gujarat ATS and the Indian Coast Guard.
“On the night of April 12-13, 2025, they seized 300 kg of narcotics worth Rs 1800 crore off the IMBL near the Gujarat coast. The consignment was recovered at sea, and ATS is conducting further investigation. This successful operation showcases the strong inter-agency synergy in the fight against drug smuggling. – Operation Details: Joint operation by Gujarat ATS and Indian Coast Guard on April 12-13, 2025 – Seizure: 300 kg narcotics worth Rs 1800 crore – Location: Off IMBL near Gujarat coast – Investigation: ATS conducting further investigation,” wrote Sanghavi.
He said, “This operation demonstrated the effectiveness of inter-agency collaboration in combating drug smuggling, similar to previous joint operations by Indian Coast Guard, NCB, and ATS that have resulted in significant seizures.”
