Massive drug bust off Kutch coast: Cocaine worth Rs 1,000 crore seized, 3 foreign nationals arrested

AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) jointly seized 118kg of cocaine worth nearly Rs 1,000 crore from the Arabian Sea off the Kutch coast. Officials said the contraband was being smuggled from Brazil and was meant to be delivered to foreign nationals based in Delhi.According to ATS officials, intelligence inputs were received about a suspicious fishing boat moving near the International Maritime Boundary Line off the Kutch coast. Acting on the tip-off, ATS officers coordinated with the Coast Guard and intercepted the boat near the Jakhau coast in the early hours of May 29.During the operation, officials found five large packets floating in the sea after they were allegedly thrown overboard by the smugglers while attempting to escape. The packets were later recovered and tested positive for cocaine. The total weight of the seized narcotics was found to be 118.871kg.One accused, identified as Juma Nasir Omar, was apprehended from the boat, while another suspect reportedly jumped into the sea and remains untraceable. The ATS later detained two more accused from Delhi — Kelvin Chukwuma and Byaruhanga James — who were allegedly supposed to receive the consignment.ATS said preliminary findings revealed the drugs were loaded in Brazil around six months ago and routed through sea channels before reaching Indian waters. Officials suspect the consignment was intended for circulation in the black market and linked to an international drug trafficking network.ATS officials also recovered a Garmin GPSMAP 67i satellite communication device concealed inside the steering gear room of the boat. The device is expected to help investigators trace the maritime route and contacts involved in the smuggling chain.