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Indian Coast Guard Seizes Rs 5 Crore Smuggled Cigarettes from Iranian Boat

The Indian Coast Guard intercepted the foreign vessel 'Al Mukhtar' approximately 115 nautical miles west of Dwarka. The boat, manned by four Iranian crew members, was found to be smuggling about one lakh packets of foreign-brand cigarettes. The contraband, concealed in the ship's holds, has an estimated international market value of Rs 2.5 to 5 crore. This operation follows another recent interception where the Coast Guard, jointly with the Gujarat ATS, seized 203 kg of suspected drugs from a foreign fishing boat.

Key Points: Coast Guard Intercepts Iranian Boat, Seizes Smuggled Cigarettes

  • Intercepted suspicious Iranian vessel
  • Seized 1 lakh packets of foreign cigarettes
  • Estimated value Rs 2.5-5 crore
  • Follows recent drug smuggling bust
3 min read

Indian Coast Guard intercepts suspicious boat with Iranian crew; seizes foreign cigarettes worth up to Rs 5 crore

Indian Coast Guard intercepts suspicious Iranian vessel 'Al Mukhtar', seizes foreign cigarettes worth Rs 2.5-5 crore in a major maritime enforcement operation.

"On 21 Feb 26, @IndiaCoastGuard ship intercepted a suspicious foreign boat inside the #Indian #EEZ - Indian Coast Guard"

Porbandar, February 22

In a major maritime enforcement operation, the Indian Coast Guard intercepted a suspicious foreign vessel within the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone. The vessel, carrying an Iranian crew, was found to be transporting a large consignment of smuggled foreign-brand cigarettes.

Providing details of the mid-sea interception in a post on X, the Indian Coast Guard stated, ''On 21 Feb 26, @IndiaCoastGuard ship intercepted a suspicious foreign boat inside the #Indian #EEZ, approximately 115 NM west of #Dwarka.''

Upon boarding and searching the vessel, officials identified the boat and its occupants. ''The vessel, identified as Al Mukhtar, was manned by four #Iranian crew,'' the ICG noted. A thorough inspection of the boat's storage areas led to the discovery of the illicit cargo hidden deep within the vessel.

''On rummaging, 200 cartons containing about one lakh packets of foreign brand cigarettes were discovered concealed in the holds,'' the Coast Guard added. The financial scale of the smuggling attempt is significant, as authorities estimated the international market value of the consignment at approximately Rs 2.5-5 crore.

The intercepted vessel and its crew have been taken into custody for detailed questioning. ''The boat is being escorted to #Porbandar for further investigation and joint interrogation with stakeholders,'' the ICG confirmed.

This latest seizure follows a similar high-stakes maritime crackdown just days prior. In a swift and daring overnight operation on February 17, the Indian Coast Guard undertook an intelligence-based operation at sea, jointly with the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS).

Based on a corroborated input from Gujarat ATS, an ICG ship from the Coast Guard Region (North West) on multi-mission deployment was diverted to intercept a foreign fishing boat suspected of drug smuggling in proximity of the notional International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL). Despite the pitch-dark night, the ICG ship identified the suspect boat through a combination of human and technical surveillance.

On realising the approaching ICG ship, the suspect boat started fleeing towards the notional IMBL. Despite the initial separation between the ICG ship and the boat at the time of its detection, the speedboat was chased down and stopped. On board, the boat was found to be manned by two crew of foreign nationality.

The boat was thoroughly rummaged, and 203 packets (1kg each) of crystalline contents suspected to be drugs were found hidden in the boat. The apprehended boat has been brought to Porbandar by the ICG ship for further investigations and chemical analysis of the substance.

The collaboration of ICG and ATS has led to numerous successful law enforcement operations in recent years and reaffirms the synergy towards the overall national objective of Coastal Security. These maritime operations come amid a broader crackdown on security threats in the region.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
Rs 5 crore worth of cigarettes? That's a massive haul. I wonder what the actual tax evasion would have been. Good interception, but it makes you think about the demand that fuels this smuggling.
P
Priyanka N
The coordination between ICG and ATS mentioned here is key. Intelligence-based operations are the future. Hope the interrogation reveals the network behind this. Jai Hind!
R
Rahul R
Respectfully, while this is a good catch, I hope the focus remains on the bigger fish. The crew are probably just pawns. The real smugglers operating from safe locations need to be caught.
A
Aman W
Two major interceptions in one week! Our maritime security forces are really stepping up. This sends a strong message. The detailed reporting is also appreciated, keeps citizens informed.
K
Kriti O
Foreign cigarettes are a status symbol for some, leading to this illegal trade. We need more awareness about how smuggling hurts our economy and security. Proud of our forces guarding the seas!

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