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.