AHMEDABAD/NEW DELHI: Narcotics Control Bureau, Delhi, Indian Navy and Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) seized 700 kg of methamphetamine – worth between Rs 1,500 crore and Rs 3,000 crore – from a foreign boat in a joint operation off the Porbandar coast, officials said on Friday. Separately, NCB seized 82.5 kg of cocaine, worth around Rs 900 crore, in Delhi.
“The back-to-back major breakthroughs against illegal drugs in a single day demonstrate the Modi govt’s unwavering resolve to build a drug-free Bharat,” Union home minister Amit Shah posted on X. He added that the New Delhi consignment of cocaine was tracked using a “bottom-to-top approach” and that the fight against drugs would “continue ruthlessly”.
“A huge consignment of about 700 kg of methamphetamine was interdicted in Indian territorial waters. During this operation eight foreign nationals, who claimed to be Iranians, were arrested,” NCB said. The eight men had no identity documents, NCB said.
According to NCB officials, there is no standard method to calculate the value of drugs as it varies as per volume, quality, region, as well as demand and supply. However, according to rough estimates, international street prices of meth, a synthetic recreational variety of narcotics, could be anywhere between Rs 2 crore and Rs 5 crore per kg. Accordingly, the price of the seized meth could be estimated to be anywhere between Rs 1,500 crore and Rs 3,500 crore.
NCB said an operation codenamed “Sagar Manthan-4”, based on intelligence inputs, was launched to intercept an unregistered vessel – without an automatic identification system or an electronic boat or ship-tracking indicator – that entered Indian waters with drugs. The suspect vessel was identified and interdicted by Navy and the seizure of the drugs and arrests took place Friday, it added.
Investigations are underway to uncover the origin of the drug shipment, intended recipients, and the broader network
