700 kg of Meth was interdicted in Indian Territorial Waters. 08 foreign nationals have been arrested who claim to be Iranians.

Pursuing  Prime Minister  Narendra Modi Ji’s vision of a Nasha Mukt Bharat the law enforcement agencies have achieved significant successes including offshore seizure of drugs in huge quantities.

This week in a joint operation carried out by NCB, Navy, and ATS Gujarat Police, a huge consignment of approximate 700 kg of Meth was interdicted in Indian Territorial Waters. During this operation 08 foreign nationals have been arrested who claim to be Iranians.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and guidance of Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah this success is a testament to the Government’s zero-tolerance policy against drugs.

Seizure part of Operation “SAGAR-MANTHAN” targeting maritime trafficking of drugs

1. Pursuing Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji’s vision of a drug-free Bharat, NCB has achieved a major success again by making a huge offshore seizure of illicit drugs. In a joint operation carried out by NCB, Indian Navy, and ATS Gujarat Police, a vessel with consignment of approximate 700 kg of Meth was interdicted in the Territorial waters of India. 08 foreign nationals found on the vessel without any identity documents have claimed to be Iranians.
2. Continuous intelligence collection and analysis resulted in generating a reliable input that an un-registered vessel, which does not have any AIS installed on it will be entering in Indian waters with Narcotic drugs/ Psychotropic substances. Operation codenamed “SAGAR-MANTHAN – 4” was launched on this intelligence input and the vessel was identified & interdicted by Indian Navy by mobilising its mission-deployed maritime patrol assets resulting in the above said seizure and apprehension on 15.11.2024.
3. Investigation to identify the backward and forward linkages of the drug syndicate are on for which help of foreign DLEAs is being be taken. This operation is also a great example of Inter-agency cooperation and coordination.
4. Operation “SAGAR-MANTHAN” was launched early this year by NCB by constituting a team of officers of Operations Branch of NCB Headquarters & officers of Operations /Intelligence Wing of the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard and ATS Gujarat Police to counter the threat to national security emanating from maritime trafficking of illicit drugs. A series of such maritime operations have been launched by NCB in coordination with the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard and till now about 3400 Kgs of various Narcotic drugs and Psychotropic Substance have been seized and 11 Iranian Nationals and 14 Pakistani Nationals have been arrested in three cases, who are all in jail awaiting trial.
5. These significant operational achievements in the Indian territorial water are a testament to our resolve to eradicate the scourge of drugs from India to realize our vision of a Nasha Mukt Bharat by 2047. To further enhance the capacities of Law Enforcement Agencies to deal with the menace of drug trafficking and drug abuse the Union Government has recently created 111 posts in NCB including 5 SP level posts in addition to the 425 posts created in last 2 years.

-Sd-
Gyaneshwar Singh, IPS
Dy Director General Ops, NCB