2,500 kg drugs worth Rs 12,000 cr seized, Pak national detained: NCB

About the seizure, the NCB stated that the intelligence wing of the Navy got information about movement of a “mother ship” carrying large quantities of methamphetamine from Makran coast, in Balochistan, Pakistan. These mother ships usually carry large quantities of narcotic contraband and distribute them to vessels over the route, the agency stated.

“Assets were mobilised and a close watch over the input was maintained by the team,” according to the release. “The continuous intelligence collection and analysis resulted in identification of a highly probable route that the mother ship would take for distribution of contraband. An Indian Naval Ship was deployed in the vicinity. Based on this input, a large sea-going vessel was intercepted by the Navy. Methamphetamine, concealed in 134 sacks, was recovered from the ship.”

The NCB said that a speed boat “which was occupied by a Pakistan national”, was intercepted, and the recovered narcotics, the Pakistani national, the intercepted boat and some other items salvaged from the ship were brought to Mattancherry wharf in Kochi by Navy on Saturday. They were handed over to the NCB for further action.

The seizure was part of `Operation Samudragupt’, which targets maritime trafficking of drugs originating from Afghanistan. The NCB said approximately 3,200 kg methamphetamine, 500 kg heroin and 529 kg hashish have been seized as part of the operation so far.