Pakistani boat ‘Al Haj’ apprehended by Indian Coast Guard, heroin worth Rs 280 crore seized

In a joint operation with the Anti-Terrorism Squad Gujarat, the Indian Coast Guard apprehended a Pakistani boat with nine crew members on the Indian side of the Arabian Sea. The boat was carrying heroin worth approx 280 crore.

The Indian Coast Guard in a statement said that the Pakistani boat named ‘Al Haj’ was apprehended when it ventured into the Indian waters.

The statement said that the boat as well as its crew members were brought to Jakhau port in Gujarat’s Kutch district for further investigation.

“In a joint Ops with ATS #Gujarat, India Coast Guard Ships apprehended Pak Boat Al Haj with 09 crew in Indian side of Arabian sea carrying heroin worth approx 280 cr. Boat being brought to Jakhau for further investigation,” said the Indian Coast Guard.

This is the second heroin bust in a few days as on Thursday, 21 April in a joint operation with officers of Gujarat ATS, the Officers of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized heroin from a container at the Kandla port in Kutch.

The consignment arrived at Kandla Port from Bander Abbas port, Iran. The consignment, imported in 17 containers (10,318 bags), has gross weight of 394 MT and was declared as “gypsum powder”.

So far, 205.6 kg of heroin, valued at Rs. 1439 crores in illicit market, has been recovered. The detailed examination of the consignment is still undergoing at the port.

On the basis of enquiry done so far, DRI has arrested the said importer under the provisions of NDPS Act, 1985 and he has been produced before the Hon’ble Court of Special Duty Magistrate, Amritsar on 24 April. The Court has granted transit remand to enable the DRI officers to produce the importer before the jurisdictional Court at Bhuj.

Further investigation in the case is under progress.