Wed Dec 04 03:31:50 UTC 2024: ## Indian Navy, Sri Lankan Navy Seize Half-Ton of Crystal Meth in Joint Operation
**COLOMBO/NEW DELHI –** In a major victory against drug trafficking, the Indian Navy, in a coordinated operation with the Sri Lankan Navy, seized approximately 500 kilograms of crystal meth from two fishing boats in the Arabian Sea. The operation, which took place on November 24th and 25th, involved advanced Indian naval assets including long-range maritime patrol aircraft, remotely piloted aircraft, and multiple naval ships.
The seizure followed intelligence sharing between the two navies. The Information Fusion Centre (Indian Ocean Region) in Gurugram played a crucial role in guiding the operation, utilizing continuous inputs from Sri Lankan counterparts and aerial surveillance to pinpoint the suspicious vessels. An additional Indian naval ship was deployed to reinforce the interception.
The two fishing boats, along with their crew and the confiscated narcotics, will be handed over to Sri Lankan authorities for further investigation and legal proceedings. This significant bust follows a similar large-scale operation earlier this month where a joint team of the Indian Navy, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), and Gujarat Police seized approximately 700 kg of drugs from an Iranian boat off the Porbandar coast. These operations highlight the increasing collaboration between regional navies in combating transnational drug trafficking in the Indian Ocean.
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