Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Apr 14: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday praised a massive drug seizure in the Arabian Sea, reaffirming the Narendra Modi government's firm resolve to dismantle drug trafficking networks operating within and around Indian borders.

Taking to social media platform X, Shah lauded the efforts of the Indian Coast Guard and Gujarat’s Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), calling the Rs 1,800 crore seizure “a monumental feat in the ceaseless pursuit of a drug-free Bharat.”

“Seizing 300 kg of narcotics near the international maritime border is a shining example of the Modi government's whole-of-the-government approach in the fight against narcotics,” Shah wrote. “Applaud Gujarat Police ATS and Indian Coast Guard for the grand success.”

The operation, executed in the early hours of April 13, unfolded near the Indian Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), after central intelligence agencies picked up suspicious activity off the Gujarat coast — a known hotspot in India’s ongoing battle against transnational drug networks.

Acting swiftly on the intelligence input, a high-speed patrol vessel of the Indian Coast Guard approached the target zone. Sensing the impending threat, the smugglers — believed to be operating a fishing boat from international waters — dumped their cargo into the sea and fled across the border.

Despite challenging night-time conditions, Indian Coast Guard divers and onboard personnel undertook a meticulous recovery operation. Several large packages suspected to contain high-grade methamphetamine were retrieved from the water.

According to the Indian Coast Guard, the total haul is estimated to have a street value of approximately Rs 1,800 crore, making it one of the most significant drug interceptions at sea in recent times.

The scale of the operation highlights both the increasing use of India’s maritime routes for trafficking and the enhanced vigilance by Indian enforcement agencies.

Recent data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) further illustrates the growing battle against narcotics. In 2022 alone, 38,064 cases were registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 — a sharp rise from 32,302 in 2021 and 26,560 in 2020.

Punjab topped the list with 7,433 cases, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 4,920 and Tamil Nadu with 2,590 cases in 2022.

With continued coordination between intelligence, policing, and maritime forces, the Modi government has reiterated its aggressive stance against what it calls a threat to national health and security.