In a major anti-smuggling operation, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), in coordination with the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), intercepted an Iranian speed boat in Indian waters near Porbandar and apprehended two Iranian nationals.
Officials said the joint team recovered around 203 kg of a suspected chemical substance, believed to have been smuggled from Iran for delivery to India.
According to a press release issued by the Gujarat ATS, the operation was launched after Superintendent of Police K.K. Patel received credible intelligence about an international drug-smuggling network.
The inputs suggested that an Iranian drug smuggler identified as Haji Fida had dispatched a consignment of nearly 200 kg of a suspicious chemical substance from Konarak Port in Iran.
The shipment was expected to reach Indian waters close to the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), around 140 nautical miles off the Porbandar coast, between February 15 and February 16, 2026.
Consignment Meant For Mid-Sea Transfer
Investigators said the contraband was intended for a mid-sea handover to an Indian vessel, after which it would have been transported further inland, reportedly towards Punjab.
Based on the actionable intelligence, Gujarat ATS immediately planned an operation under the supervision of SP ATS K. Siddharth and Deputy Superintendent of Police S.L. Chaudhary.
A dedicated ATS team was deployed to Porbandar, including Police Inspectors A.S. Chavda and V.N. Bharwad, along with PSI S.R. Chavda and other personnel.
Joint Operation With Indian Coast Guard
Recognising the maritime nature of the smuggling attempt, ATS shared the intelligence with the Indian Coast Guard. This led to the formation of a joint ATS–ICG operation team, which began monitoring the suspected movement in the Arabian Sea region.
Officials said the operation reflects the increasing coordination between central maritime forces and state-level anti-terror and narcotics agencies to curb cross-border smuggling.
Iranian Boat Intercepted In Indian Waters
On the night of Monday, at around 8 pm, the joint team intercepted a suspicious speed boat inside Indian waters near the IMBL, approximately 140 nautical miles from Porbandar.
The boat was found to be of Iranian origin. Two individuals on board were detained and later identified as Abdul Majid, son of Ismail, resident of Chabahar, Konarak, Iran and Abdul Sattar, son of Kadarbaksh, resident of Chabahar, Konarak, Iran.
A search of the vessel led to the recovery of 203 packets containing a suspected chemical substance. The total weight of the seized material was estimated to be around 203 kg.
The speed boat along with the contraband was seized immediately.
Officials said the nature of the substance is still under investigation, and it has been sent for scientific testing.
FSL Analysis Underway
After the interception, the detained individuals, the seized vessel, and the recovered packets were brought to the Porbandar Coast Guard Station.
The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) has initiated chemical analysis of the seized substance to determine its exact composition and whether it falls under narcotics or banned psychotropic categories.
Authorities have registered appropriate legal proceedings in connection with the seizure.
Smuggling Networks Under Scanner
Officials believe the case could have wider implications, as it points to an international supply chain involving Iran-based smugglers and Indian contacts.
The reference to Punjab as the intended destination has raised concerns about the continued attempts of narcotics networks to route contraband into northern India through maritime channels.
The Gujarat ATS and Coast Guard are now expected to expand the investigation to identify the larger syndicate behind the shipment and trace possible Indian receivers.
The seizure marks yet another significant success in India’s ongoing crackdown on maritime drug trafficking and cross-border smuggling attempts along the western coastline.
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