PORBANDAR, February 22 — The Indian Coast Guard intercepted a suspicious foreign vessel inside India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and seized a large consignment of smuggled foreign-brand cigarettes valued at an estimated Rs 2.5 crore to Rs 5 crore.
According to officials, the interception took place on February 21, approximately 115 nautical miles west of Dwarka. The vessel, identified as Al Mukhtar, was manned by four Iranian crew members.
Upon boarding and searching the boat, Coast Guard personnel discovered 200 cartons containing around 100,000 packets of foreign-brand cigarettes concealed deep within the vessel’s storage holds.
The vessel and its crew have been taken into custody and are being escorted to Porbandar for further investigation and joint interrogation with relevant authorities.
The operation follows another major maritime enforcement action earlier this week. On February 17, the Indian Coast Guard, in coordination with the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad, conducted an intelligence-based operation near the notional International Maritime Boundary Line.
Acting on input from the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad, an Indian Coast Guard ship from the Coast Guard Region (North West), deployed on a multi-mission assignment, intercepted a foreign fishing boat suspected of drug smuggling.
Despite the darkness, the Coast Guard identified the vessel using a combination of human and technical surveillance. When the suspect boat attempted to flee toward the International Maritime Boundary Line, it was chased and stopped.
The vessel was found to be crewed by two foreign nationals. A search uncovered 203 packets, each weighing one kilogram, containing crystalline substances suspected to be narcotics concealed on board.
The seized boat was brought to Porbandar for further investigation and chemical analysis of the recovered substance.
Officials said the continued coordination between the Indian Coast Guard and the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad has strengthened coastal security efforts and contributed to multiple successful maritime law enforcement operations in recent years.
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