In a massive anti-narcotics operation, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the Indian Coast Guard have busted an alleged international cocaine smuggling network linked to Brazil, Tanzania, Nigeria, Uganda and Delhi, seizing nearly 119 kilograms of cocaine from the Arabian Sea near Mundra coast.
According to an official Gujarat Police press release issued on Wednesday, the operation was launched after ATS Police Inspector J.M. Patel received specific intelligence inputs about a planned narcotics delivery through Gujarat’s sea route.
Investigators said crew members identified as Ngingite Nassoro Jumanne and Juma Nasir Omar aboard the cargo vessel Europe had allegedly concealed around 150 kilograms of cocaine in multiple bags originating from Brazil. The shipment was reportedly meant to be transferred during the early hours of May 26 to a fishing boat near Mundra’s outer anchorage area before being transported to Delhi.
Officials said the final delivery was allegedly intended for Kelvin Chukwuma and Byaruhanga James, who were later detained from Delhi’s Dwarka area with assistance from Delhi Police.
During surveillance of the cargo vessel, ATS and Coast Guard teams reportedly observed suspicious movement by two individuals on the ship’s deck. According to the police statement, the suspects allegedly threw several heavy bags into the sea after spotting the approaching Coast Guard vessel.
With the help of the Coast Guard, five floating bags were recovered from the water. Authorities said drug detection kits confirmed the seized substance to be cocaine after sample packets from two bags were tested on-site.
A total of 115 packets weighing approximately 118.977 kilograms were recovered during the operation. Police also seized four Apple AirTags from inside the bags, indicating the smugglers may have used digital tracking technology to monitor the consignment during transit.
During interrogation, accused Juma Nasir Omar allegedly confessed to concealing the cocaine consignment inside the vessel’s motor room in November 2025 while working there. Police claimed he admitted that the drugs were hidden without the knowledge of other crew members and were to be delivered under instructions from an unidentified handler.
Meanwhile, another accused identified as Ngingite Nassoro Jumanne allegedly jumped into the sea during the search operation in an attempt to escape. Search operations to locate him are still underway.
Further searches conducted aboard the vessel led to the recovery of two Garmin GPSMAP 67i GPS and satellite communicator devices hidden inside the steering gear room, police said.
Authorities confirmed that Juma Nasir Omar has been arrested and booked under relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The accused detained in Delhi are also being brought to Gujarat for further questioning and legal proceedings.
Police said both suspects on the vessel are Tanzanian nationals, while the detained men in Delhi include one Nigerian national and one Ugandan national.
The latest operation is among the biggest maritime cocaine seizures in Gujarat in recent years and has once again highlighted growing concerns over international drug syndicates using the Arabian Sea and western Indian coastline for narcotics trafficking.