A consignment of 700-kilogram methamphetamine (meth) was seized and eight foreign nationals were arrested who claimed to be Iranians, in a joint operation of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), Gujarat Police, and the Indian Navy in a mid-sea operation in western India’s Gujarat.

The incident took place on the Porbandar coast in Porbandar district on November 15.

Visuals showed officials arresting eight accused individuals and escorting them away from the waterfront and took them to the police station.

According to the reports, the NCB issued a statement, saying an operation codenamed ‘Sagar Manthan – 4’ was launched based on intelligence inputs. A vessel was identified and interdicted by the Navy by mobilizing its maritime patrol assets. A huge consignment of about 700 kg of Methamphetamine was interdicted in Indian Territorial waters. During this operation, eight foreign nationals were arrested who claimed to be Iranians.

NCB officials added the accused were identified as Ata Mohammed Baloch, 41, Z N Baloch, 20, Ismail Ibrahim, 23, Rasul Baksh, 51, Mohammed Rahisi, 55, Gulam Mohammed, 62, Kasim Baksh, 63 and Nabi Baksh Baloch, 43. The eight men do not have any identity documents.

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, as per rough estimate, international street prices of meth, a synthetic recreational variety of narcotics, could be anywhere between Rs 2 crore (USD 236837.00) to Rs 5 crore (USD 592126.00) per kg. The price of the seized meth could be estimated to be anywhere between Rs 1,400 crore(USD 165799.06) and Rs 3,500 crore (USD 414497.65).

Meanwhile, Indian Navy said, “Indian Navy in a coordinated operation with the NCB and Gujarat Police intercepted a suspicious boat leading to the seizure of approximately 700kg of meth in Gujarat. This is the second major successful coordinated anti-narcotics operation at sea by the Navy this year.”

Union Minister Amit Shah expressed that Pursuing Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi’s vision for a drug-free Bharat, our agencies today busted an international drug trafficking cartel and seized over approx. 700 kg of contraband meth in Gujarat.”