Massive Drug Seizure Off Gujarat Coast Foiled Plans to Smuggle Meth to Tamil Nadu
300 kg of Meth Worth $216 Million Seized Near Porbandar; Operation Linked to Pakistani Drug Mafia
PORBANDAR, INDIA — April 14, 2025 — In a major anti-narcotics operation, Gujarat’s Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) intercepted a Pakistan-origin fishing vessel near the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and seized 300 kilograms of methamphetamine. Valued at approximately ₹1,800 crore (USD 216 million), the contraband was reportedly en route to Tamil Nadu via Gujarat’s coast.
Joint Operation Halts Major Drug Trafficking Attempt
Acting on actionable intelligence, Gujarat ATS, in coordination with the Indian Coast Guard, launched a maritime operation late on April 12. The intel suggested that a Pakistani drug syndicate led by a notorious trafficker named Fida was planning to smuggle 400 kg of methamphetamine into India.
DIG Sunil Joshi of the Gujarat ATS revealed that the boat was expected to arrive within Indian waters between 8 p.m. on April 12 and 4 a.m. on April 13, approximately 190 kilometers off the Porbandar coast. Swift coordination between law enforcement and maritime defense units enabled the interception of the suspicious vessel before it could breach Indian territory.
Drug-Laden Boat Tried to Evade Capture
According to Commander Amit Uniyal of the Indian Coast Guard, the suspect boat attempted to flee and discard the drug-laden packets into the sea when it spotted the approaching Coast Guard vessel, which was deployed from the Western Region’s multi-mission patrol route.
Despite the cover of darkness and rough sea conditions, the ICG launched high-speed intercept crafts to chase and stop the vessel. The dumped consignment was swiftly recovered. A total of 311 packets containing 311 kg of methamphetamine were retrieved.
Investigation Uncovers Larger Narco Network
The seized drugs have been transported to Porbandar for further forensic analysis and investigation. The Gujarat ATS has registered a case and initiated a deeper probe into the cross-border drug trafficking network.
Indian Home Minister Amit Shah hailed the operation as a “significant achievement” and applauded the Gujarat ATS and ICG for their vigilance. The bust reignites concerns about Gujarat being a gateway for international drug syndicates targeting India’s youth.
Meanwhile, opposition leaders, including Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi, criticized the state administration, claiming that Gujarat has become a hub for narcotics smuggling. Doshi highlighted that since 2018, over 5,400 kg of narcotics worth ₹10,000 crore have been seized via maritime routes, with arrests including Pakistani, Iranian, and Nigerian nationals.
