Gujarat: Six Pakistani nationals convicted in drug smuggling bid worth over Rs 380 crore​

Bhuj, April 24 A special court in Gujarat’s Kutch district has sentenced six Pakistani nationals to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for attempting to smuggle heroin worth over Rs 380 crore into India through its territorial waters.​

The Sixth Additional Sessions and Special NDPS Court in Bhuj, presided over by Judge V.A. Badhu, held the accused guilty under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.​

The court observed that the operation was part of a deliberate attempt to “target the youth of India and push them towards serious addiction”, adding that it reflected “a well-planned strategy to weaken the nation’s structure through large-scale supply of narcotic substances”.​

In its order, the court noted that drug abuse is “not merely an individual issue but can become a national crisis” with direct implications for internal security.​

The case dates back to December 2021, when the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) received specific intelligence from Deputy Superintendent of Police Bhavesh Rojiya about a consignment of heroin being transported by a Pakistani vessel named “Al Husseini” from Karachi.​

The delivery was expected to take place around 35 nautical miles off the Jakhau coast.​

Acting on the input, the ATS, in coordination with the Indian Coast Guard, launched a joint operation between December 18 and 20, 2021.​

During surveillance in the Arabian Sea, a suspicious boat was detected on radar at around 2:30 a.m. on December 20.​

Coast Guard teams intercepted and surrounded the vessel, where six individuals were found on board.​

The occupants, identified as Pakistani fishermen, were taken into custody. A search of the vessel led to the seizure of five large bags containing 76,936 grams of heroin without any valid authorisation.​

The contraband was valued at Rs 384.68 crore.​

Following a complaint lodged by ATS Police Inspector M.C. Nayak, a case was registered under Sections 8(c), 22(c), 25 and 29 of the NDPS Act at the ATS Police Station.​

The investigation was carried out by Police Sub-Inspector R.R. Rathod.​

The accused were identified as Mohmad Imran Mohammad Tariq Vaghera (31), Danish Mohammad Husen Kachchi Vaghera (24), Sagar Mohammad Kachchi Vaghera (23), Ismail Ibrahim Badala (45), Mohmad Sajid Mohammad Husen Yakublala Kungara (24), and Ashfaq Mohammad Ishaq Vaghera (26), all residents of Karachi.​

During the trial, the prosecution submitted 203 documentary pieces of evidence and examined 13 witnesses.​

Chief District Government Pleader H.B. Jadeja represented the prosecution.​

After assessing the evidence and arguments, the court found all six accused guilty and sentenced each to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs two lakh.​

--IANS

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