Indian Navy's leading warship INS Tarkash seized over 2500 kg of drugs in the middle of the sea

Indian Navy's leading warship INS Tarkash seized more than 2,500 kg of drugs from the Western Indian Ocean. The Navy was informed on 31 March about suspicious activity of some ships. Then these drugs were intercepted by initiating a campaign. It includes 2,386 kg of hashish and 121 kg of heroin. It was placed in sealed packets.

A Navy spokesperson said that after questioning all the suspicious ships in the vicinity, INS Tarkash, in collaboration with the P8I maritime surveillance aircraft, called the third eye of the Indian Navy, and the Maritime Operations Center in Mumbai, intercepted a suspicious ship. During this, its helicopter was also sent to monitor the activities of the suspicious ship and to identify other ships potentially operating in the area.

The officer said that when an expert team along with Marine Commandos boarded the suspicious ship and searched it thoroughly, several sealed packets were recovered from it. He said that the search and interrogation revealed that more than 2,500 kg of narcotics were kept in various cargo holds and compartments on the ship.

The spokesperson said that the suspicious ship was later brought under the control of INS Tarkash and the crew members were questioned in detail about their modus operandi and the presence of other similar ships in the area. INS Tarkash is a major frigate of the Indian Navy, which is being operated under the Western Naval Command.

This seizure demonstrates the effectiveness and efficiency of the Indian Navy in preventing and controlling illicit activities including drug smuggling at sea. The Indian Navy's goal is to promote security, stability, and prosperity in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).