Gujarat at the Center of India’s High-Stakes Battle Against Narcotics: Uncovering the Crisis Along Its Coastline

In a significant operation, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), along with the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), seized over 300 kg of methamphetamine valued at around Rs 1,800 crore on April 12-13. This operation is a major setback for drug trafficking networks.

The action followed specific intelligence from Gujarat ATS. An ICG ship was redirected to intercept a suspicious vessel off the North Maharashtra-South Gujarat coast. When the suspect boat spotted the approaching ICG ship, it quickly jettisoned its cargo into the sea and fled. Though the vessel managed to escape into international waters, the ICG deployed a fast sea boat that successfully retrieved the drugs. The contraband has since been sent to Porbandar for further investigation.

This marked the 13th successful joint operation between the ICG and Gujarat ATS, highlighting a pressing issue: Gujarat’s extensive coastline has become a major entry point for narcotics into India. The coastline stretches over 1,640 kilometers and is characterized by a mix of remote creeks and busy fishing harbors. This geography creates a complex challenge for law enforcement.

Gujarat’s proximity to the ‘Golden Crescent’—a notorious drug-producing area comprising Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan—places it at the heart of the global narcotics trade. The combination of geography and rising international drug trafficking has turned Gujarat into a frontline in India’s battle against drugs.

Recent statistics show a disturbing trend in narcotics seizures. A record 3,300 kg of drugs were confiscated from an Iranian fishing vessel in February 2024, valued at more than Rs 20,000 crore. This was one of the largest drug busts ever in Indian history. Similarly, in November 2023, authorities intercepted 700 kg of meth from another Iranian boat, indicating highly organized smuggling operations.

In April 2024, a concerning shift occurred when Indian authorities recovered 173 kg of hashish from an Indian-flagged fishing boat allegedly connected to a Pakistan-based syndicate. This suggests traffickers are now employing local vessels to bypass detection, representing a new level of sophistication in smuggling techniques.

The urgency surrounding Gujarat’s coastal security was underscored by a landmark seizure in September 2021, where 2,988 kg of heroin was discovered at Mundra Port, disguised as talcum powder. This incident revealed severe gaps in cargo inspection protocols and raised alarms about the vulnerability of Indian ports.

Officials emphasize that while the ICG, Gujarat ATS, and the Narcotics Control Bureau are increasing their vigilance, traffickers continually adapt their methods. These adaptations, combined with complex challenges in monitoring vast coastlines, make tackling drug trafficking all the more difficult.

As India strengthens its maritime security through improved surveillance and inter-agency cooperation, the lesson is clear: a poorly monitored coastline can become a gateway not just for drugs, but for threats to national security. The need for constant vigilance and innovation in strategy has never been more crucial in this ongoing fight against narcotics.



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