Cocaine worth ₹1,200 crore seized from foreign vessel at Mundra Port in Gujarat

Mundra (Gujarat) – The series of narcotics seizures at Mundra Port continues. On 28 May, authorities seized 118 kilograms of cocaine worth approximately ₹1,200 crore at the port. The operation was carried out jointly by the Indian Coast Guard and the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). Three foreign nationals have been arrested in connection with the case. The cocaine was discovered during a search of a Cyprus-registered cargo vessel. The vessel had reached the Gujarat coast after travelling via Brazil, South America, Mexico, and Karachi Port in Pakistan. Following the operation, the vessel was brought to a port in Kutch.

According to information provided by one of the arrested accused during interrogation, the seized cocaine was intended to be delivered to two individuals residing in Dwarka, Delhi. Previously as well, narcotics worth thousands of crores of rupees have been seized on multiple occasions at Mundra Port. Mundra is a private port owned by the Adani Group.

Editorial Perspective

There are many ports in the country; however, narcotics worth thousands of crores of rupees are repeatedly seized specifically at Mundra Port. What does this indicate? Does it mean that stringent inspections are carried out at this port, or that it is convenient for drug smuggling operations? If proper scrutiny is not being conducted at other ports, then attention needs to be paid to that issue.