ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Navy on Monday seized narcotics worth Rs59.7 billion (approximately $215 million) during a joint intelligence-based counter-narcotics operation near the Gwadar coastline in Balochistan.
The operation was carried out in coordination with the Pakistan Coast Guards (PCG) in Pishukan, a town located on the western shore of Gwadar West Bay. Authorities recovered 1,500 kilograms of hashish and 500 kilograms of methamphetamine, commonly known as “ice.”
The Pakistan Navy said it plays an active role in maritime security operations in the Arabian Sea, including intercepting illegal drug shipments. It also regularly collaborates with international task forces to disrupt major narcotics trafficking networks operating in the region.
“The value of seized consignment is approximately USD 215 million in the international market,” the navy said in a statement.
“The consignment was being transported via Arabian Sea to international destinations.”
The Pakistan Navy said the seized narcotics were handed over to the Pakistan Coast Guards (PCG) for further legal proceedings.
It added that the operation highlighted strong inter-agency coordination in combating smuggling, as well as the Navy’s determination to prevent the misuse of maritime routes for illegal activities.
These operations form part of the Pakistan Navy’s broader efforts to curb drug trafficking along the country’s coastline and dismantle criminal networks involved in the transnational movement of narcotics across South Asia, the Middle East and beyond.
In October last year, a Pakistan Navy vessel operating under a Saudi-led multinational task force had also seized narcotics worth nearly Rs271 billion (approximately $972 million) in the North Arabian Sea.
