Acting on specific intelligence inputs regarding the smuggling of narcotics through maritime routes, the joint operation was launched on the intervening night of May 25 and 26. Authorities said the Gujarat ATS had received credible information about a drug shipment being transported via sea, prompting immediate action in coordination with the Indian Coast Guard.
According to Gujarat Director General of Police Dr. K. L. N. Rao, a vessel was intercepted at the outer anchorage of Mundra Port, located approximately five nautical miles off the coast. During the operation, six bags containing around 118 kilograms of cocaine were recovered. The estimated value of the seized narcotics was placed at approximately ₹1,150 crore (about 11.5 billion rupees).
Officials further stated that the consignment had been brought to the ship by two foreign nationals, allegedly intended for delivery to a Tanzanian national and a Ugandan national based in Delhi. Three individuals have been taken into custody and are currently being interrogated as part of the ongoing investigation.
Investigators have also recovered a high-communication satellite phone and an Apple tracking device from the operation site. Authorities believe these devices may provide crucial leads in tracing the wider smuggling network.
Preliminary findings indicate that the vessel had travelled a long international route before reaching India, passing through Brazil, several Latin American countries, Mexico, the United States, and Karachi.
During the interception, ICG interceptor boats carrying ATS personnel launched an extensive search operation in the Mundra anchorage area after suspicious activity was detected aboard a container vessel identified as MV Europe. Officials reported that under the cover of darkness, several bags were thrown overboard from the ship. Despite poor visibility conditions, Indian Coast Guard and ATS teams swiftly responded and recovered five bags from the sea.
Following the recovery operation, the vessel was escorted to the port for detailed examination, and joint investigations involving the Indian Coast Guard, Gujarat ATS, and other agencies are now underway.
Officials noted that this marks the 15th successful anti-narcotics operation jointly conducted by the Indian Coast Guard and Gujarat ATS over the past five years, underscoring an increasingly coordinated effort to combat maritime drug trafficking networks operating through Indian waters.
The operation highlights the expanding scale and sophistication of international narcotics smuggling attempts and the heightened vigilance of Indian maritime security agencies in countering such threats.
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