The Indian Coast Guard and the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad have seized 526 kg of heroin and methamphetamine worth over Rs 3,000 crore from an Iranian vessel intercepted near Lakshadweep on September 25.

The dhow, named “Azad”, was stopped about 160 nautical miles north-west of Lakshadweep in a joint operation. Five Pakistani nationals on board were detained and have been identified as residents of Peshawar.

Investigators said the vessel sailed from Konarak in Iran and took delivery of the drug consignment from a smaller boat that had set off from Gwadar. The case has been registered with the Gujarat ATS.

The vessel was brought to Mumbai under armed escort for further investigation, as agencies probe the transnational smuggling network behind the consignment.

Officials described the seizure as one of the largest drug hauls in the Arabian Sea, underlining the region’s vulnerability to maritime narcotics trafficking.

The agencies said the operation was based on specific intelligence inputs, and further arrests are possible as the probe into the smuggling syndicate widens.