NCB-Navy seizes about 800 kg of narcotics off Gujarat coast

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Saturday said it had seized about 800 kg of drugs, with a street value of about Rs 2,000 crore, from a vessel in the Arabian Sea off the Gujarat coast in a joint operation with the Navy, the largest such haul.

The seizure includes over 529 kg of "very high-quality hashish (charas)", more than 234 kg of the "finest quality of crystal methamphetamine" and about 15 kgs of heroin. The seizure includes over 529 kg of "very high-quality hashish (charas)", more than 234 kg of the "finest quality of crystal methamphetamine" and about 15 kgs of heroin.

While the drugs are suspected to have been loaded from Pakistan, the NCB is investigating its delivery contacts. The seized narcotics, packed in large jute bags, have been brought to the Porbandar port in Gujarat and the agency is conducting further formalities and probe, he added. The seized narcotics, packed in large jute bags, have been brought to the Porbandar port in Gujarat and the agency is conducting further formalities and probe, he added.

The unprecedented and first-of-its kind seizure of almost 800 kgs of contraband drugs came about after a four-day operation that the agency conducted in collaboration with the Navy in the high seas, NCB director general (DG) S N Pradhan told PTI. The NCB team was stationed for all the four days on a Navy ship that patrols India's maritime borders. The NCB team was stationed for all the four days on a Navy ship that patrols India's maritime borders.