Ahmedabad, Feb 17 (IANS): State Monitoring Cell (SMC) of Surat in Gujarat has seized a consignment of cocaine valued at over a crore rupees on Navsari Highway.

The high-value narcotics were being transported from Mumbai to Ahmedabad when the SMC team intercepted the vehicle.

Acting on a tip-off, the SMC team set up surveillance on Navsari Highway, closely monitoring vehicles suspected of smuggling illicit substances.

During the operation, officers stopped a suspicious car and conducted a thorough search, uncovering a large quantity of cocaine. Officials estimate the seized drugs to be worth over a crore rupees in the illegal market.

Authorities arrested two individuals in connection with the drug haul—a Nigerian woman and the car’s driver. The duo was allegedly ferrying the contraband from Mumbai to Ahmedabad.

The SMC has confiscated the vehicle and seized the drugs as part of the ongoing investigation. Sources suggest that the interrogation of the arrested individuals could lead to shocking revelations, potentially exposing a larger drug trafficking network.

The SMC continues its probe into the origins and intended recipients of the smuggled cocaine. Gujarat has witnessed a significant rise in cocaine seizures in recent years, positioning the state as a key point in international drug trafficking networks.

In 2021, Gujarat Police confiscated drugs valued at Rs 1,617 crore, marking the highest annual seizure in the state's history at that time.

This included over 67,000 kg of various narcotics, a sharp increase from the previous year's 12,458 kg worth Rs 195 crore.

The trend continued in 2022, with authorities seizing more than 31,000 kg of drugs, valued at approximately Rs 5,137 crore. This surge in drug confiscations highlights the intensified efforts by law enforcement to crack down on smuggling operations and curb the flow of illegal substances into the state.