Bhuj: A special court under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act in Gujarat’s Bhuj has sentenced six Pakistani nationals to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment each for smuggling heroin worth ₹384.68 crore into Indian waters.
Court hands down strict punishment
The judgment was delivered by Additional District Judge V.A. Buddha, who also imposed a fine of ₹2 lakh on each of the convicted individuals.
The court observed that large-scale drug trafficking is a serious offence that impacts not just individuals but the nation’s internal security and social fabric.
Details of the accused
The six convicts — Mohammad Imran Mohammad Tariq Vagher (31), Danis Mohammad Husen Kutchi Vagher (24), Sagar Mohammad Kutchi Vagher (23), Ismail Ibrahim Barala (75), Mohammad Sajid Mohammad Husen Yakublala Kungra (24), and Ashfaq Mohammad Ishaq Vagher (26) — are all residents of Karachi, Pakistan.
2021 maritime drug bust
The case dates back to December 2021, when a Pakistani boat named Al Husseini was intercepted off the Jakhau coast in Kutch based on specific intelligence inputs.
A joint operation by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad and the Indian Coast Guard led to the detection of the vessel.
According to officials, the boat had entered Indian waters about 35 nautical miles from the coast between December 18 and 20, allegedly to deliver narcotics.
Seizure and arrest
Around 2:30 am on December 20, the suspicious vessel was detected on radar and subsequently intercepted. All six persons on board were detained during the operation.
Authorities recovered approximately 77 kg of heroin from the vessel, with an estimated market value of ₹384.68 crore.
Strong prosecution case
During the trial, the prosecution presented 203 documentary pieces of evidence and examined 13 witnesses to establish the case.
District Government Pleader H.B. Jadeja stated that the court recognised the organised nature of the smuggling attempt and treated it as a grave offence.
Impact on national security
The court emphasised that drug trafficking at such a scale poses a serious threat to national security and societal stability. It noted that such operations are often part of larger organised networks.
Conclusion
The sentencing of the six Pakistani nationals highlights India’s strict enforcement of anti-narcotics laws and its continued efforts to curb cross-border drug trafficking. Authorities maintain that coordinated maritime surveillance and intelligence-sharing remain key to preventing such incidents in the future.