An Iranian fishing vessel with around 200 kg of heroin worth over Rs 1,200 crore has been seized in a joint operation by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Indian Navy, the NCB said on Friday.
Sanjay Kumar Singh, Deputy Director General (operations) of the NCB, who met reporters here, said the agency has arrested six Iran nationals and the boat, along with the heroin, was brought to Mattancherry wharf here.
"The NCB has now seized the vessel and 200 kg of heroin. The six Iranian crew members have also been arrested under relevant sections of the NDPS Act, 1985," Singh said, adding that interrogation was on.
He said the drug was found in 200 packets each of which has markings and packing specialties unique to Afghanistan- and Pakistan-based drug cartels.
"While some of the drug packets had 'Scorpion' seal markings, the others had 'dragon' seal markings. The drug was also packed in a waterproof seven-layered packing. Preliminary investigation revealed that the seized drug was sourced from Afghanistan and was transported to Pakistan. This consignment was then loaded into the now-seized vessel off Pakistan coast in a mid-sea exchange," NCB said.
The agency said the vessel then set sail to Indian waters for further delivery of the consignment to a Sri Lankan vessel.
It said efforts were made to identify and intercept this Sri Lankan vessel but it couldn't be traced.
Singh said the accused tried to escape by jumping into the sea and also tried to dump the consignment into the waters.
The NCB said trafficking Afghan heroin into India through Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean into India has exponentially increased over the last few years.
"The southern route for trafficking of heroin from Afghanistan i.e. from Afghanistan to Makran coast of Iran and Pakistan and then onwards to various countries in the Indian Ocean Region including India has gained prominence over the last few years," Singh said.
Even though the dhow was seized and brought to Mattancherry on Thursday itself, the officials did not divulge any details until today's press meet by Singh.