New Delhi, Oct 3: Heightened coastal surveillance is narrowing the maritime routes available to the alleged Haji Salim drug network for moving large narcotics consignments into India, officials said, days after Indian agencies seized drugs worth more than Rs 3,000 crore off the Lakshadweep Islands.
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad intercepted an Iranian dhow 160 nautical miles northwest of Lakshadweep and arrested five Pakistani nationals operating the vessel. The operation resulted in the seizure of 400 kg of methamphetamine and 126 kg of high-grade drugs.
According to an official, the consignment was intended to reach Tamil Nadu before being moved into international markets. The official alleged that Haji Salim, described as a Dawood Ibrahim aide, oversees narcotics smuggling into southern states, from where consignments are moved towards Sri Lanka and countries including Thailand.
Officials said Gujarat had previously served as the network’s preferred route, but repeated seizures and increased surveillance had made operations increasingly difficult there. The network subsequently shifted towards southern maritime routes, according to the officials.
The latest interception has brought the alternate route under scrutiny as well. One official said the network may have spent months developing the route to bypass Gujarat but would now be forced to search for another entry point following the joint operation.
Before Gujarat became the preferred route, officials identified Vizhinjam near Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala as a major route used by the network. Successive enforcement actions resulted in several consignments being intercepted, while surveillance at the port has since been significantly heightened, officials said.
An Intelligence Bureau official said the network had subsequently identified Kasargod and Malappuram in north Kerala as alternative landing locations because of comparatively lower coastal surveillance. The official, however, said surveillance in these areas was likely to increase.
Despite the successive seizures, officials cautioned against complacency, citing the alleged financial interests of both the narcotics network and the ISI. According to officials, arrangements allegedly made by the ISI with narcotics operators including Dawood Ibrahim and Haji Salim require the drug networks to hand over 40 per cent of their proceeds, in return for alleged protection.
Officials alleged that these proceeds are largely used to finance terror activities in India.
The seizures are also putting pressure on the alleged network’s ability to meet international demand, officials said. Haji Salim is reportedly facing pressure from international buyers for large quantities of narcotics, while continued disruptions could prompt buyers to seek alternative sources, potentially affecting the network’s operations.
Officials said the latest interception demonstrates that while the network continues to seek new maritime routes, intensified surveillance is increasingly bringing those routes under scrutiny.
