9 Iranians arrested with 100 kilograms of heroin off Indian coast

Indian government officials said on Wednesday, April 27, that the country's Coast Guard forces have arrested nine Iranians in the waters off the coast of Gujarat in the west of the country with a cargo of 100 kilograms of heroin.

According to AFP, Indian counter-terrorism police said that following a warning from the coast guard, the boat's occupants initially tried to escape, but when they saw that they had no way to escape, they set their boat on fire to destroy evidence of the crime.

According to the report, police forces were able to remove 100 kilos of heroin from the barge before it sank.

There were 24,000 liters of fuel and gas cylinders on this barge.

AFP reports that nine Iranians from the rescued boat said during interrogation that they loaded their cargo at the port of Gwadar.

Indian authorities have said the value of the seized heroin is more than $72 million.

Local media said that Gujarat police had earlier received reports of smugglers attempting to smuggle an illegal drug shipment from the coast, and accordingly, the Coast Guard and other security forces in the state were informed.

According to these reports, the Coast Guard became suspicious of the barge after 24 hours of patrolling the Gujarat coast.

Gujarat police officials say that the person who was supposed to receive the shipment has been identified and legal action has been initiated to arrest him.

Source: Radio Farda