Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah has congratulated security agencies for busting an international drug trafficking cartel and seizing 700 kg of contraband methamphetamine in Gujarat.

In a post on X, Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah said, Pursuing PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji's vision for a drug-free Bharat, our agencies today busted an international drug trafficking cartel and seized approx. 700 kg of contraband meth in Gujarat. The joint operation carried out by the NCB, Indian Navy, and Gujarat Police stands out as a stellar example of our commitment to the vision as well as the seamless coordination among our agencies in achieving the same. My heartiest congratulations to the agencies on this landmark breakthrough.

In a joint operation carried out by Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Indian Navy, and ATS Gujarat Police, a vessel with consignment of approximate 700 kg of Meth was interdicted in the Territorial waters of India. 08 foreign nationals found on the vessel without any identity documents have claimed to be Iranians.

Continuous intelligence collection and analysis resulted in generating a reliable input that an un-registered vessel, which does not have any AIS installed on it will be entering in Indian waters with Narcotic drugs/Psychotropic substances. Operation codenamed “SAGAR-MANTHAN-4” was launched on this intelligence input and the vessel was identified & interdicted by Indian Navy by mobilising its mission-deployed maritime patrol assets resulting in the above said seizure and apprehension on November 15, 2024.

Investigation to identify the backward and forward linkages of the drug syndicate is on for which help of foreign DLEAs is being taken. This operation is also a great example of Inter-agency cooperation and coordination.

Operation “SAGAR-MANTHAN” was launched early this year by NCB by constituting a team of officers of Operations Branch of NCB Headquarters & officers of Operations/Intelligence Wing of the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard and ATS Gujarat Police to counter the threat to national security emanating from maritime trafficking of illicit drugs. A series of such maritime operations have been launched by NCB in coordination with the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard and till now about 3400 Kgs of various Narcotic drugs and Psychotropic Substance have been seized and 11 Iranian Nationals and 14 Pakistani Nationals have been arrested in three cases, who are all in jail awaiting trial.

These significant operational achievements in the Indian territorial water are a testament to our resolve to eradicate the scourge of drugs from India to realize our vision of a Nasha Mukt Bharat by 2047.  To further enhance the capacities of Law Enforcement Agencies to deal with the menace of drug trafficking and drug abuse the Union Government has recently created 111 posts in NCB including 5 SP level posts in addition to the 425 posts created in last 2 years.

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RK/VV/PR/PS