India seizes more than $300m worth of drugs from Iranian dhow

The Indian Coast Guard has seized more than $300 million worth of narcotics from an Iranian dhow in the Arabian Sea, detaining five Pakistani crew members. The operation, conducted jointly with Gujarat's Anti-Terrorism Squad and the Central Intelligence Agency, involved a prolonged pursuit and positive detection of the suspicious vessel.

The drugs, believed to be heroin and methamphetamine, were valued at approximately $312 million. The Coast Guard has taken the dhow and the five crew members to Mumbai for further examination and legal proceedings. Authorities have not disclosed information about the drugs' origin, intended destination, or the broader network behind the shipment.

The interception occurred in the Arabian Sea, west of the Lakshadweep archipelago, a region previously associated with significant drug seizures. The operation is part of ongoing efforts to disrupt maritime narcotics trafficking and organized crime, highlighting a well-known route for narcotics smuggled from the Makran coast of Iran and Pakistan to India and beyond.

The waterway serves as a transit point for drugs originating further away, particularly from Afghanistan.