Nine Iranians Arrested with 100 Kilograms of Heroin off Indian Shores
Indian government officials said on Wednesday, the seventh of Farvardin, that the country’s coast guard forces arrested 9 Iranians in the waters off the coast of Gujarat in the western part of the country with a shipment of 100 kilograms of heroin.
According to the French news agency, India’s counter-terrorism police announced that following a warning from coast guard forces, the boat’s crew initially attempted to flee, and when they realized there was no way to escape, they set their boat on fire to destroy evidence and criminal documents.
According to the report, police forces managed to remove 100 kilograms of heroin from the boat before it sank.
The boat contained 24,000 liters of fuel and gas capsules.
The French news agency states that the 9 Iranians rescued from the boat said during interrogation that they loaded their shipment at Gwadar Port.
Indian officials said the value of the seized heroin exceeds 72 million US dollars.
Local media say Gujarat police had previously received reports about smugglers’ attempts to transport an illegal shipment of narcotics from the shore, and on this basis informed the coast guard and other security forces of the state.
According to these reports, coast guard forces became suspicious of the boat after 24 hours of patrols off the Gujarat coast.
Gujarat police officials say the person who was supposed to receive this shipment has been identified and legal proceedings to arrest him have been initiated.
Source: Radio Farda
