Gujarat ATS, Coast Guard apprehend Pakistani boat 'Al Haj' with heroin worth Rs 280 crore

Gandhinagar, April 25: In a joint operation with the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), the Indian Coast Guard, apprehended a Pakistani boat named 'Al Haj' on the Indian side of the Arabian Sea near Gujarat and seized heroin worth Rs 280 crore from the vessel.

 

 

ATS has arrested 9 Pakistani nationals from the ship named "Al-Haj". They have been arrested on charges of smuggling heroin by a boat near Jakhao fishing harbour off the Gujarat coast.

 

A defence spokesperson said the Indian Coast Guard ships intercepted and apprehended the Pakistani boat 'Al Haj' when it ventured into the Indian waters. Officials found heroin worth Rs 280 crore on the boat, the statement said, adding that the boat, as well as its crew members, were brought to Jakhau port in Gujarat's Kutch district for further investigation.

 

 

 

ATS reportedly got information about the drugs being brought from Pakistan and, with the help of the Indian Coast Guard, launched a joint operation to nab the boat coming from across the border.

 

This is the second instance of a major drug seizure by the Indian agencies off the Gujarat coast. Last week, heroin worth ₹1,500 crores was recovered by the ATS and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) from a container at Kandla port in Kutch.

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