3300 kg of charas, meth: Inside India’s largest drug haul

In a major development, Indian security and anti-narcotics agencies seized 3,300 kilogrammes of drugs from a boat off the coast of Gujarat.

The operation was carried out by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), with assistance from the Indian Navy and the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS).

This is the “largest” seizure of drugs in the Indian subcontinent, the Defence Ministry has said.

Five men suspected to be from Pakistan or Iran are also arrested.

Here’s all we know about the latest seizure.

The highest-ever offshore capture

The operation was undertaken in the Arabian Sea along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).

Based on intelligence received from the Navy’s surveillance aircraft P8I LRMR, which was corroborated with inputs from NCB, a mission-deployed IN ship was pressed into action to intercept a suspicious dhow en route to the Indian waters, according to a statement from the Ministry of Defence.

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During the investigation of the boat, the authorities seized 3,089 kg of cannabis, 158 kilos of methamphetamine, and 25 kg of morphine.

#IndianNavy in a coordinated ops with Narcotics Control Bureau, apprehended a suspicious dhow carrying almost 3300Kgs contraband (3089 Kgs Charas, 158 Kgs Methamphetamine 25 Kgs Morphine).
The largest seizure of narcotics, in quantity in recent times.@narcoticsbureau pic.twitter.com/RPvzI1fdLW

— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) February 28, 2024

These drugs are thought to be worth about Rs 2,000 crore on the global market, according to India Today.

“Subsequently, the boat was towed by the IN warship to the nearest Indian port for handing over the crew and contraband to the law enforcement agencies,” the Ministry added.

The five people arrested on the boat are suspected to be either Iranian or Pakistani nationals. No documents of nationality have been recovered from them, a senior NCB officer said, as per PTI. The official did not specify the cost of the contraband.

An investigation is currently being conducted to find out more details about the suspected Pakistani crew members and to determine where the drugs came from and are going.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah called the joint operation by the Navy, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Gujarat Police a “historic success” and a testament of his government’s “unwavering commitment to making our nation drug-free.”

Rise in drug busts

There has been a sharp increase in the nation’s law enforcement agencies seizing drugs over the last five years.

Since 2021, Gujarat has become a state where the largest amount of drugs has been confiscated more frequently.

India has emerged as one of the world’s top opiate markets in terms of consumers, according to Business Standard which cited the UN Office on Drugs and Crime’s World Drug Report 2022.

The report stated that Gujarat was the third-worst state in terms of drug overdose deaths, with Punjab and Himachal Pradesh leading the nation in the opioid user epidemic.

Operation Samudragupt was launched by the Centre in an attempt to make India drug-free by 2047.

Under this objective, the government has launched a comprehensive campaign to combat drug trafficking and abuse, stepping up its campaign against cartels bringing illegal substances into the nation.

Some of the biggest drug busts in India

February 2024

In the largest-ever drug bust by Pune City police, the Crime Branch carried out multiple raids at a chemical production plant in Daund taluka, two godowns in Vishrantwadi and various stores in South Extension, New Delhi, and confiscated about 1,800 kilogrammes of mephedrone worth Rs 3,700 crore, as per Indian Express.

 May 2023

At least 2,500 kilogrammes of high-purity methamphetamine, also known as crystal meth, worth an estimated Rs 15,000 crore, were seized from a huge vessel off the coast of Kerala by the Indian Navy and the NCB, as per Manorama.

As a result of the narcotics bust, a Pakistani national was arrested.

June 2023

According to Livemint, the NCB busted a drug trafficking network, which was operational pan-India through the dark web with linkages to Poland, Netherlands and the US. The agency seized 15,000 blots of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD).

The report said payments were made via cryptocurrency and crypto wallets.

December 2023

In one of the biggest-ever drug hauls in Bengaluru, the Central Crime Branch (CCB) confiscated two kilogrammes of cocaine in 99 capsules inside his stomach. The cocaine was valued at Rs 20 crore, reported The Times of India.

The smuggler, who is a 40-year-old Nigerian passport holder on a medical treatment visa to India, was intercepted by the unit at Kempegowda International Airport upon his arrival.

February 2022

The Indian Navy and the NCB in the High Seas seized around 529 kilogrammes of very high-quality hashish, 234 kilos of finest-quality crystal methamphetamine, and some quantity of heroin, as per Livemint.

September 2021

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence seized two containers carrying about 2,988.22 kilogrammes of heroin at Mundra port in Gujarat.

The Hindu reported that the agency acted on a tip-off about a consignment imported by Aashi Trading Company, located in Andhra Pradesh’s Vijayawada.

April 2021

According to The Hindu, the Indian Navy seized over 300 kilos of narcotics worth Rs 3,000 crore from a fishing vessel in the Arabian Sea.

“INS Suvarna, whilst on surveillance patrol in the Arabian Sea, encountered a fishing vessel with suspicious movements. To investigate the vessel, the ship’s team conducted boarding and search operation, which led to the seizure of more than 300 kg of narcotics substances,” a Navy statement said. “The boat with its crew have been escorted to the nearest Port of Kochi in Kerala for further investigation.” 

With inputs from agencies