India Seizes $141 Million Cocaine Shipment Near Mundra Port, Arrests Tanzanian National

Indian authorities have seized nearly 119 kg of cocaine worth about ₹1,180 crore ($141 million) from a cargo vessel near Gujarat’s Mundra Port, in one of the country’s largest maritime narcotics interceptions in recent years.

The operation was carried out jointly by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the Indian Coast Guard after intelligence inputs suggested a large cocaine consignment was being smuggled through the Arabian Sea.

According to investigators, the shipment originated in Brazil and was supposed to be delivered near Mundra’s outer anchorage area to a fishing boat before being transported to Delhi.

Officials said intelligence inputs indicated that around 150 kg of narcotics had been concealed onboard the cargo vessel Europe.

During the interception, authorities saw two individuals on the deck allegedly throwing heavy bags into the sea after spotting the Coast Guard vessel.

With the help of the Coast Guard, five floating bags were recovered from the water. Officials tested samples from the packets using a drug detection kit, which confirmed the substance was cocaine.

Authorities recovered 115 packets weighing 118.977 kg in total. Four Apple AirTags were also found inside the bags.

During the operation, one suspect identified as Juma Nasir Omar, a Tanzanian national, was arrested onboard the vessel.

According to ATS officials, he told investigators that the cocaine had been secretly concealed inside the ship’s motor room in Brazil in November 2025 without the knowledge of other crew members.

Officials said he was instructed to deliver the consignment near the Gujarat coast.

Another accused, identified as Ngingite Nassoro Jumanne, allegedly jumped into the sea during the operation in an attempt to escape. Search operations are still underway to locate him.

Further searches onboard the vessel led to the recovery of two Garmin GPSMAP 67i GPS and satellite communication devices hidden inside the steering gear room.

At the same time, Gujarat ATS teams, with assistance from Delhi Police, detained two foreign nationals, Kelvin Chukwuma, a Nigerian national, and Byaruhanga James, a Ugandan national, from Dwarka in Delhi.

Investigators said the two were allegedly waiting to receive the cocaine consignment.

Officials believe additional packets may have been thrown into the sea before the interception, as earlier intelligence had pointed to a larger quantity onboard.

The Gujarat ATS said investigations are continuing into the international network linked to the smuggling operation. More arrests are possible as questioning and forensic examination continue.

References: ANI News, freepressjournal