5 Pakistanis Held as Coast Guard Foils Major Drug Smuggling Bid; 526 Kg Heroin, Meth Worth Rs 3,000 Cr Seized in Arabian Sea

The Indian Coast Guard, in coordination with the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Gujarat, has foiled a major drug-smuggling attempt in the Arabian Sea, west of Lakshadweep, and seized around 526 kg of heroin and methamphetamine worth over Rs 3,000 crore in the international market. Five Pakistani nationals operating the vessel were also arrested.

 

 

Acting on actionable intelligence, the Indian Coast Guard carried out precise sea and air surveillance and maintained continuous tracking before initiating a hot pursuit and boarding a suspicious Iranian dhow on 25 September 2026.

 

The seized drugs, the dhow and its crew have been brought to Mumbai under armed protection for joint interrogation and further legal action by multiple agencies.