WATCH: Indian Coast Guard carries out anti-narcotics exercise off Gujarat coast

The Indian Coast Guard carried out an extensive anti-narcotics exercise along the maritime boundary with Pakistan on January 2. The exercise was conducted off the Gujarat coast near Okha and Sir Creek area, ANI reported.

The anti-narcotics drill held under the three nautical miles near the International Maritime Border Line (IMBL).

In the video, the ICG jawans can be seen getting inputs from a senior officer. Two H-191 hovercrafts were used during the extensive anti-narcotics exercise.

Watch the video here.

Gujarat is a very sensitive state as it shares a border with Pakistan. The state’s coastline has emerged as an international drug smuggling transit hub in recent years. Therefore, the Indian Coast Guard has increased its patrolling activities near the International Maritime Border Line.

On December 26, a Pakistani boat with 10 crew members was intercepted off the Gujarat coast. The ICG officials seized a huge cache of arms, ammunitions and narcotics. The approximate value of the seized narcotics in the international market is Rs 300 crore.

The ICG was able to thwart the major intrusion with inputs shared by Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad. The ICG deployed its fast patrol ship 'ICGS Arinjay' for patrolling and spotted the Pakistani fishing boat 'Al Soheli' moving suspiciously in Indian waters.

On being challenged by the Coast Guard patrol ship, the boat started evasive manoeuvring and did not stop even after firing warning shots. The Coast Guard eventually managed to intercept and stop the boat.

The crew members and boat were brought to Okha port for further investigation. This was the seventh joint operation by the ICG and Gujarat ATS in the last 18 months, and the first apprehension wherein huge cache of arms, ammunition, and narcotics were recovered.

In the last 18 months, the jawans have arrested 44 Pakistanis, 7 Iranians, and seized more than 340 kg of heroin worth about Rs 1,930 crore.