New Delhi: In one of the biggest maritime drug seizures in recent months, the Indian Coast Guard, in coordination with the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), intercepted an Iranian dhow carrying around 526 kg of heroin and methamphetamine in the Arabian Sea, west of Lakshadweep.

The vessel was intercepted on September 25 following an intelligence-led sea-air surveillance operation. The Coast Guard tracked the suspicious dhow before launching a hot pursuit and boarding it in the high seas.

Five Pakistani nationals who were allegedly operating the Iranian-flagged dhow were apprehended during the operation. The seized narcotics are estimated to be worth more than Rs 3,000 crore in the international market, officials said.

The dhow, its crew and the seized contraband have since been brought to Mumbai under armed escort for joint interrogation and further legal action by multiple agencies.

The operation highlights the growing use of maritime routes in the Arabian Sea for trafficking high-value narcotics, with security agencies maintaining heightened surveillance along India's western maritime frontier. Officials said the seizure also prevented a large quantity of synthetic and other narcotic drugs from reaching the Indian mainland.