ATS, ICG seize 200 kg chemicals from Iranian boat

The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) have apprehended two Iranians, who “daringly” navigated a speedboat from Iran to Indian waters, attempting to smuggle more than 200 kg of a suspected chemical substance. In a joint operation, the two agencies intercepted an Iranian speedboat, about 140 nautical miles off the Porbandar coast, on Monday night, seizing 203 packets of white powder and apprehending the accused, ATS Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Sunil Joshi said.

“Packets containing a white powder chemical were recovered from the boat, and the substance has been sent to the Forensic Laboratory for testing. This chemical could not be identified in the primary heroin detection kit,” he said.

 Joshi said prima facie, it appears that the duo had travelled all the way from Iran on the speedboat. “The manner in which they travelled so far in a speedboat is quite daring. According to the information, the packets were to be received by a person from Punjab.