In a dramatic midnight chase off the Gujarat coast, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) intercepted a foreign speedboat carrying 203 kg of a crystalline, drug-like substance, dealing a fresh blow to suspected maritime narcotics smuggling networks.
The joint operation, conducted overnight on February 16, was testament to how India’s coastal security agencies were increasingly relying on intelligence-led, technology-backed patrols to police the Arabian Sea.
Intelligence tip-off turns into high-seas chase
The ICG’s North West Region received a corroborated input from Gujarat ATS about a foreign fishing boat suspected to be ferrying drugs close to the notional International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), the Coast Guard said.
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An ICG ship already on multi-mission deployment was diverted to intercept the vessel. Despite pitch-dark conditions, the Coast Guard crew managed to identify the suspect craft using a mix of human surveillance and onboard sensors.
Once the smugglers spotted the approaching ICG ship, they attempted to flee towards the IMBL, triggering a high-speed pursuit on the rough seas. Despite the initial distance between the two vessels, the Coast Guard warship closed in, chased down the speedboat and forced it to stop, preventing a possible dash into international waters.
203 kg suspected drugs, foreign crew held
On boarding, the ICG team found that the boat was manned by two crew members of foreign nationality. A thorough search revealed 203 packets, each weighing 1 kg, of crystalline material hidden inside the boat—suspected to be narcotic drugs pending chemical analysis.
The seized vessel has been brought to Porbandar for detailed investigation, including forensic testing of the seized substance and questioning of the crew to trace the wider network.
An official press statement from the Indian Coast Guard noted that the operation was part of a series of successful joint actions by the ICG and Gujarat ATS in recent years, aimed at choking off the use of India’s western seaboard for smuggling contraband.
The Coast Guard described the bust as further proof that close coordination between maritime forces and land-based intelligence units is critical to securing India’s coastline and preventing drug cartels from exploiting the cover of darkness and proximity to the international boundary.
