Gujarat ATS, Indian Coast Guard Seize 119 Kg Cocaine Off Kutch Coast; Tanzanian National Held

Mundra: In a major crackdown on an international drug trafficking network, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), in coordination with the Indian Coast Guard and other agencies, seized nearly 119 kg of cocaine worth over Rs 1,000 crore from a cargo vessel off the coast of Mundra and arrested a Tanzanian national. Two foreign nationals suspected of receiving the consignment in Delhi have also been detained.

According to Gujarat ATS, Police Inspector J.M. Patel received a tip-off indicating that crew members identified as Ngingite Nassoro Jumanne and Juma Nasir Omar aboard the cargo vessel Europe had concealed around 150 kg of cocaine, packed in six bags and allegedly brought from Brazil. The narcotics were reportedly scheduled to be transferred to a fishing boat in the outer anchorage area near Mundra during the early hours of May 26.

ATS officials said the consignment was allegedly intended to be delivered to Kelvin Chukwuma and Byaruhanga James, both based in Delhi.

Following the intelligence input, senior ATS officials deployed a special team led by SP K. Siddharth, along with other officers, to Mundra, while a separate technical surveillance team operated from the ATS headquarters.

The ATS subsequently coordinated with senior Indian Coast Guard officials in Mundra and formed a joint operation team. During surveillance in the outer anchorage area, officials identified the cargo vessel Europe and observed suspicious activity involving two individuals on the vessel’s deck.

Upon noticing the approaching Coast Guard team, the suspects allegedly threw several heavy bags into the sea. During the operation, five floating bags were recovered from the water with assistance from the Coast Guard.

Officials said samples taken from two packets tested positive for cocaine using a drug detection kit. A total of 115 packets weighing 118.977 kg were recovered from the five bags. Four Apple AirTags were also found concealed inside the bags.

After confirming the presence of narcotics, ATS and Coast Guard officials boarded the vessel and carried out searches and interrogations of crew members in the presence of the ship’s captain.

During questioning, crew member Juma Nasir Omar was identified and later detained. According to ATS, Omar allegedly confessed that he had smuggled the contraband from Brazil and secretly concealed it inside the ship’s motor room in November 2025 without the knowledge of other crew members. He reportedly claimed he was acting under instructions from a handler and was supposed to deliver the consignment at the designated location.

During the search operation, another accused, Ngingite Nassoro Jumanne, allegedly jumped into the sea in an attempt to escape. Search operations to trace him are currently underway.

Further searches aboard the vessel led to the recovery of two Garmin GPSMAP 67i GPS and Satellite Communicator devices concealed in the steering gear room.

ATS officials subsequently seized the narcotics and related materials, arrested Omar, and registered a criminal case for further investigation.

Meanwhile, Gujarat ATS, with assistance from Delhi Police, also rounded up Kelvin Chukwuma and Byaruhanga James from Dwarka in Delhi. Officials said efforts are underway to bring them to Gujarat for further questioning and legal proceedings.

ATS stated that both suspects aboard the vessel are Tanzanian nationals, while among those detained in Delhi, one is a Nigerian national and the other is from Uganda.

The operation also received assistance from the Mundra Port Authority, Coastal and Marine Police, and SOG Kutch-Bhuj officials. Gujarat ATS described the operation as a major success against an international drug cartel and an example of effective inter-agency coordination. DeshGujarat

One of the accused – Jumma Nassir Omar