118.98 kg found on Cyprus-flagged cargo ship 'Europe'; African nationals detained, one crewman jumped overboard

A joint operation by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the Indian Coast Guard on Tuesday led to the seizure of 118.98 kg of cocaine—valued at about ₹1,150 crore—from a Cyprus-flagged cargo vessel, ‘Europe’, anchored off Mundra in Kutch district, officials said.

Seizure at outer anchorage

Acting on specific intelligence, the teams intercepted the ship at the outer anchorage of Mundra Port late on Monday night, according to sources familiar with the probe. As enforcement vessels approached, crew members are reported to have thrown heavy bags overboard. Divers later recovered five floating bags comprising 115 packets of the narcotic, officials said. Four Apple AirTags and two satellite communication devices were also recovered from the vessel.

Crew and suspects

Gujarat ATS officials arrested a Tanzanian crew member, identified as Juma Nasir Omar, from the ship. Omar is reported to have admitted placing the consignment in the engine room in November 2025, according to investigators, saying he acted on the instructions of an overseas handler. A second Tanzanian crew member, named by sources as Ngingite Nassoro Jumanne, jumped into the sea during the raid and a marine search operation is underway.

Separately, the ATS said two men believed to be the intended receivers of the consignment were detained in Delhi during coordinated raids. They have been identified as Kelvin Chukwuma, a Nigerian national, and Byaruhanga James, a Ugandan national. Both are being transferred to Gujarat for questioning and formal charges, officials added.

Route and origin

Preliminary probe indicates the consignment originated in Brazil and moved through a circuitous route that included Mexico, the United States and Karachi before arriving off the Gujarat coast, investigators said. Officials recovered tracking devices and satellite equipment hidden in the steering room, which they said suggests an organised, transnational smuggling chain.

Quantity discrepancy, ongoing searches

Initial intelligence put the quantity at roughly 150 kg, but only 118.98 kg was recovered, prompting authorities to suspect some packets were deliberately discarded during the interception. Joint search-and-recovery sorties by the ATS, Coast Guard and local marine units continue in the adjacent waters to locate any remaining contraband, an official said late evening.

Legal action and probes

A criminal case under relevant narcotics laws has been registered at Mundra police station, and the ATS has taken the lead in the investigation. “We are coordinating with central agencies and international partners to trace the supply chain and handlers,” a senior ATS officer said on condition of anonymity. The National Investigation Agency and customs officials have been informed, sources added.

Local context and impact

Mundra, one of India’s busiest private ports, has seen increased maritime traffic in recent years, which officials say raises the challenge of policing sophisticated smuggling attempts. The seizure is the latest in a series of high-profile drug intercepts along the Gujarat coast that authorities credit to improved intelligence-sharing and stepped-up maritime patrolling.

Reactions from authorities

The Indian Coast Guard described the operation as a coordinated maritime enforcement action that prevented a major narcotics consignment from entering the domestic distribution chain. Gujarat police said the arrests and recoveries were the result of sustained intelligence inputs and targeted action under anti-drug initiatives launched in the state.

What happens next

Investigators will focus on interrogations, forensic analysis of recovered devices and phone records, and international liaison to identify suppliers and handlers. The detained suspects are expected to be produced before a magistrate after medical evaluation and procedural formalities. Meanwhile, marine teams continue to comb the waters near the anchorage for any discarded material.

Related developments

The seizure follows other recent drug busts in Gujarat, including a raid in Vapi that uncovered an alleged MD (mephedrone) manufacturing unit. Authorities say such operations are part of a broader crack-down on organised narcotics networks affecting the state and neighbouring regions.

Operation Nishchay Nets 46 Wanted Criminals Across Raipur Range

Chhattisgarh Police Deploy 95 Teams in Five Districts, Seize Drugs, Liquor, and Weapons in Sweeping Two-Day Crackdown

In one of the most coordinated law enforcement drives in recent months, the Raipur Range Police executed a sweeping two-day crackdown under Operation Nishchay, targeting criminal networks across five districts of Chhattisgarh. The joint operation, conducted on April 4 and 5, mobilised 95 teams simultaneously across Balodabazar-Bhatapara, Gariaband, Dhamtari, Mahasamund, and Raipur Rural districts.

Scale of the Operation

A total of 384 raids, searches, and checkpost operations were carried out over the 48-hour window. The sheer scale of the deployment signals the Raipur Range's intent to dismantle entrenched criminal activity in both urban fringes and rural belts. According to police officials, the operation was planned with prior intelligence inputs and coordinated at the range headquarters level.

Liquor and Drugs Seized

The drive yielded significant recoveries on the narcotics and liquor front. Under the Excise Act, 126 cases were registered and an equal number of accused were taken into custody. Seized liquor stocks amounted to 802.436 litres of country and foreign liquor, along with 597 quarter bottles.

On the narcotics front, 22 NDPS Act cases were filed, with police recovering 21.945 kilograms of contraband substances and 60 tablets suspected to be psychotropic drugs. Ganja formed a bulk of the seized narcotic material, as per reports from district units.

Weapons Recovered, Warrants Served

Six cases were registered under the Arms Act, with police seizing two pistols during the course of the operation. The recovery of firearms from civilians in rural districts has been flagged as a priority concern in the range's anti-crime strategy.

Parallel to the seizures, a dedicated warrant execution drive was run alongside the raids. Teams served a combined 46 warrants — comprising 31 arrest warrants, 14 permanent warrants, and 1 bailable warrant — leading to the apprehension of 46 wanted individuals who had been evading the law.

District-Wise Breakdown

Each district contributed significantly to the overall tally:

• Balodabazar-Bhatapara — 13 NDPS cases filed; 5.6 kg of narcotics seized

• Gariaband — 119 raids conducted; 158 litres of liquor recovered

• Dhamtari — 150 locations covered; 3.9 kg of contraband seized

• Mahasamund — 10.5 kg of drugs and 357 litres of liquor recovered

• Raipur Rural — 1.8 kg of ganja and 597 quarter bottles seized

Additionally, 174 actions were taken under various preventive and prohibitory sections.

Gambling Rackets Busted

Two cases were also registered under the Gambling Act, with seven accused arrested and cash amounting to ₹6,230 seized from illegal betting and gambling dens. Four separate criminal cases were also pursued by respective district units as part of the broader operation.

Official Statement

Police officials confirmed that Operation Nishchay is not a one-time exercise. "The drive against anti-social elements, smugglers, and absconders will continue with equal intensity," a senior officer said, adding that maintaining law and order across the Raipur Range remains the department's foremost priority.

What Comes Next

Authorities indicated that further crackdowns are planned based on leads generated during this operation. With dozens of wanted persons now in custody and substantial contraband off the streets, investigators are expected to pursue leads that could unravel larger supply chains behind drug trafficking in the region. The operation is being seen as a template for future range-level coordinated drives across Chhattisgarh.