Major Drug Bust: A joint operation by the Indian Navy and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has resulted in the seizure of almost 2,500 kilograms of methamphetamine worth approximately Rs 12,000 crore in Indian waters along the Kerala coast.
The anti-drug agency revealed that a Pakistani national has been detained in connection with the massive drug bust, which it described as the largest seizure of methamphetamine in India.
NCB officials provided details of the seizure during a press conference in which they revealed that the operation, named 'Operation Samudragupt', aimed to tackle the trafficking of drugs from Afghanistan through maritime routes.
The massive seizure of almost 2,500 kilograms of methamphetamine was a significant breakthrough for the operation.
The NCB revealed that this was the agency's third major seizure of drugs being trafficked via the southern maritime route in the past 18 months, indicating their sustained efforts to curb drug trafficking in the region.
According to the NCB, the operation has resulted in the seizure of approximately 3,200 kilograms of methamphetamine, 500 kilograms of heroin, and 529 kilograms of hashish to date.
The agency further claimed that the methamphetamine seized in the latest operation was intended for distribution in India, Sri Lanka, and Maldives after being trafficked from Afghanistan through the southern maritime route.
According to officials, the drug haul had originated from a "mother ship", which is a large vessel that distributes narcotics to smaller boats during its journey.
The ship had started its journey from the Makran coast, located near Pakistan and Iran.
