Two Iranians held with over 200 kg suspected chemical substance off Gujarat

The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), in coordination with the Indian Coast Guard, apprehended two Iranian nationals and seized more than 200 kg of a suspected chemical substance from a speedboat intercepted off Gujarat, officials said on Tuesday (February 17, 2026).

The interception took place around 140 nautical miles off the Porbandar coast on Monday night (February 16). A total of 203 packets containing a white powder were recovered from the vessel, officials said.

“The packets containing a white powder have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory for examination. The substance could not be identified using the primary heroin detection kit,” they said.

Preliminary findings suggest that the two accused had navigated the speedboat from Iran to Indian waters. “The manner in which they travelled such a long distance in a speedboat is quite daring. As per our information, the consignment was to be received mid-sea and subsequently transported to Punjab. The investigation is underway,” police said.

Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), in collaboration with the Coast Guard, intercepted and seized a speedboat with foreign nationals carrying 203 kg of a suspected narcotic-like substance on Tuesday. Photo: X/@IndiaCoastGuard via ANI

According to the ATS, a tip-off was received that an Iranian drug smuggler identified as Haji Fida had dispatched a consignment from Konarak Port in Iran for delivery in Indian waters.

The arrested men have been identified as Abdul Majid and Abdul Sattar, both residents of Chabahar in Iran.

Officials said cases involving travel by speedboat from Iran are rare, with only two such instances reported in the past four years. “It appears to be a new modus operandi adopted by Iranian smugglers, as speedboats have a higher chance of evading Coast Guard vessels,” he said.

Two mobile phones were recovered from the accused, and investigators are analysing the data for further leads. Officials said the language barrier has posed initial challenges in questioning the suspects.