In a major anti-narcotics operation, the Indian Coast Guard and the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) jointly seized nearly 203 kilograms of a suspected narcotic substance from a speed boat off the Gujarat coast, exposing what investigators believe to be a cross-border drug trafficking route originating from Iran and intended for distribution in Punjab. Two Iranian nationals travelling on the vessel have been detained as part of the ongoing investigation.
According to ATS officials, intelligence inputs indicated that an Iran-based operative, identified as Haji Fida, was planning to smuggle a large consignment of drugs into India through maritime channels. Acting on this information, authorities maintained surveillance for two days before identifying a suspicious small speed boat at sea. The vessel was subsequently intercepted by the Coast Guard during a coordinated search operation involving multiple agencies.
Officials reported that the boat, believed to have originated from Iran, was carrying 203 packets of a crystalline substance, each weighing approximately one kilogram. The material is suspected to be narcotics, though chemical analysis is currently underway to confirm its exact composition. Investigators said the consignment was allegedly destined for delivery to a handler based in Punjab, indicating an organised trafficking network spanning international and domestic links.
The two individuals apprehended onboard have been identified as Abdul Majid and Abdul Sattar, both Iranian nationals. Authorities noted that travelling such a long distance across open waters in a small speed boat is unusual, raising suspicions that similar routes may have been used previously for smuggling activities. Preliminary findings suggest the seized vessel is Iranian-made and may have sailed directly from Iran before being intercepted.
The boat has since been brought to Porbandar for detailed examination and further investigation. Security agencies are now focusing on identifying and tracking the intended recipient in Punjab while attempting to dismantle the broader network involved in the trafficking operation.
Officials said the successful interception underscores increasing coordination between maritime security forces and counter-terror agencies in monitoring sea routes and preventing illegal smuggling activities. The operation is being viewed as part of a broader effort to strengthen coastal surveillance and curb the use of maritime corridors for narcotics trafficking and other transnational crimes.
