The Indian Coast Guard, in a joint operation with the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad, has seized 526 kg of drugs worth more than Rs 3,000 crore from an Iranian boat in the Arabian Sea, officials said on Wednesday.

Five Pakistani nationals operating the vessel were detained in the operation, carried out near Lakshadweep on September 25. The contraband comprised high-grade methamphetamine and heroin, the Coast Guard said in a statement.

Acting on intelligence inputs, Coast Guard assets carried out sea-air surveillance, tracked the suspicious dhow and launched a hot pursuit before boarding it west of Lakshadweep. The vessel, its crew and the drugs were brought to Mumbai under armed escort for joint interrogation and legal proceedings.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the seizure followed 16 days of coordination among security agencies. Gujarat ATS officials said the boat, named Azad, carried about 400 kg of methamphetamine and 126 kg of heroin, and was equipped with a Starlink device to communicate with handlers.

The ATS said the consignment was meant for Punjab via Tamil Nadu, and linked it to Pakistan-based smuggler Haji Salim. The investigation is continuing.