Kutch: In a swift maritime operation, the Indian Coast Guard apprehended 11 Pakistani fishermen, including two juveniles, after their boat was found fishing inside India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) on December 10.

According to officials, Coast Guard ship C-437 spotted a suspicious fishing boat around 12:30 pm during a routine patrol. When approached, the Pakistani crew switched off the engine in an attempt to evade interception. Despite this, the Coast Guard boarded the vessel and confirmed that all on board were Pakistani nationals.

The fishermen had sailed from Ibrahim Hyderi, a fishing port near Karachi, on December 5 aboard the boat Al Wali. They were brought to Jakhau Port at around 8:30 pm on Wednesday and handed over to the Jakhau Marine Police after preliminary questioning. No contraband or suspicious material was found during the initial inspection, officials said.

Security agencies will, however, conduct detailed interrogation as a precautionary measure. Ibrahim Hyderi has previously been linked to drug-trafficking routes. In May 2019, six Pakistanis were caught with 214 kg of narcotics from a boat originating from the same port. In April 2021, another group arrested with 30 kg of heroin had also reportedly departed from Ibrahim Hyderi.

The Coast Guard said the interception reflects India’s continued vigilance at sea and its commitment to safeguarding maritime borders while enforcing international maritime laws. DeshGujarat