The Gujarat police and Indian Coast Guard (ICG) have together netted a whopping 710 kg of contraband in seizures off the coast of Gujarat in the last three years.
In the latest joint operation, Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) sub-inspector Hitesh Vadher joined the crew of the ICG patrol vessel Sajag based on specific information and, on Apr 28, overpowered a boat suspected of carrying illicit drugs.
Sharing details with the press on Apr 29, director-general of police (DGP) Vikas Sahay said that officials seized 173 packages of the psychoactive drug, worth an estimated ₹60 crore.
Even as the daring high-seas exercise was underway, in the Arabian Sea, ATS teams were positioned in Pune. The advance team arrested one Kailash Sanap based on intelligence that he was the intended recipient of the consignment from a Pakistani drug lord known as “Fida”. A primary investigation revealed that Mangesh Tukkram and Haridas Kulal had acquired a fishing boat from Ali Asgar Harepotra in Mandvi. The three had met Fida’s associates in the deep sea, and transferred the drugs from the Pakistani boat to Harepotra’s fishing vessel. To avoid suspicion, the consignment was meant to have been handed over to one Dutta Sakharam at Dwarka, from where it would make its way further inland.
Sanap, Tukkram, Kulal, Harepotra and Sakharam were all arrested. The case is still underway, DGP Sahay said. He also commended the ICG for its role in the operation.
In response, AK Harbola, Inspector-General of ICG, shared that the two law enforcement bodies have conducted 11 joint ops and seized 710 kg of drugs in three years.