Two arrested with 5 kg heroin smuggled from Pakistan: Guj ATS

The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad arrested today two persons and seized 5 kilograms of heroin, reportedly worth Rs 15 crore in the international market, which the agency believes was smuggled from Pakistan by sea.

The seizure was made in Salaya in Gujarat's Devbhoomi Dwarka district, about 450 km from here, and it indicated a nexus of terror organisations in its smuggling, the ATS said in a release.

"On the basis of a specific information, the Gujarat ATS has arrested a person named Aziz Abdul Bhagad from Salaya, Devbhoomi Dwarka. He was found in possession of 5 kg of pure heroin, worth Rs 15 crore in the international market," it said.

The heroin was brought to Salaya in conspiracy with two more persons from Mandvi, one of whom, identified as Arif Adam Sumra, was arrested, the ATS said.

The ATS further said that the remaining part of the consignment was transferred to a person for its sale in north India.

It added that the heroin seized was part of a "bigger consignment" of 100 kg that was brought to Mandvi in Kutch district from Pakistan four months ago.

"The heroin was brought by the same accused via sea route by using dhows and fishing trawlers. The origin of the consignment is in Pakistan and its delivery was made in the international waters," the ATS said.

"Information available with the investigation agency indicates nexus of terror organisations in the smuggling of contraband heroin. Further, there are clear linkages found in this case with the case where Australian Navy had intercepted a dhow carrying heroin in 2014," it further said.

The Royal Australian Navy had in April that year seized more than one tonne of heroin from a dhow in the Kenyan waters in the Indian Ocean.