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New Delhi : In a joint operation launched by Marine Task Force (MTF), Indian Coast Guard (ICG), and Anti-Terrorist Squad of Gujarat, nine Iranians were apprehended along with 100 kilograms of narcotics off the coast of Gujarat on March 26, 2019.
On March 24, 2019, inputs were received from ATS, Gujarat, regarding an illegal consignment of narcotic drug, Heroin, likely to be smuggled into Gujarat through a Dhow ex-Iran. It also revealed that the consignment was loaded in Pakistan and destined for Gujarat. A team of ATS embarked Indian Coast Guard Ship for the mission while communication frequencies were constantly monitored by the ATS personnel.
After extensive search of more than 24 hours, the suspicious Dhow was intercepted on March 26, 2019, by ICG ship off Gujarat coast. On being challenged, the suspicious Dhow resorted to evasive tactics. On realising that apprehension by ICG was inevitable, the crew set the Dhow on fire to destroy the evidence. In a daring Joint Boarding Operation, the ICG and ATS team embarked the Dhow and apprehended nine Iranian crew and recovered 100 kg of Heroin.
The ICG ship, thereafter, attempted to extinguish the fire on-board the Dhow. However, due to presence of large quantity of fuel and few gas cylinders, the fire became uncontrollable and consequently the Dhow sank. The apprehended crew along with the consignment was brought over to Porbandar by Indian Coast Guard Ship and handed over to Marine Task Force (MTF), Gujarat, on March 27, 2019, for further action, according to a PIB release.