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Bhuj: Six Pakistani nationals were sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment each by a special Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) court in Gujarat’s Bhuj for smuggling nearly 77 kg heroin, valued at about Rs 384.68 crore, into Indian waters in December 2021.

The judgment was delivered by sixth additional district judge V A Buddha. The six have also been fined Rs 2 lakh each.

The Pakistanis have been identified as Mohammad Imran Mohammad Tariq Vagher (31), Danis Mohammad Husen Kutchi Vagher (24), Sagar Mohammad Kutchi Vagher (23), Ismail Ibrahim Barala (75), Mohammad Sajid Mohammad Husen Yakublala Kungra (24), and Ashfaq Mohammad Ishaq Vagher (26). All of them are residents of Karachi, as reported by Hindustan Times.

H B Jadeja, district government pleader, said the court held that such acts of supplying narcotic substances cannot be treated as ordinary offences and that the accused were part of a planned operation. The court also observed that large-scale drug trafficking affects not only individuals but also the nation’s structure and internal security, he said.

The prosecution placed 203 documentary evidences and examined 13 witnesses during the trial, Jadeja said.

A joint team of the Gujarat ATS and Indian Coast Guard intercepted Pakistani boat Al Husseini off the Jakhau coast in Kutch in December 2021. The vessel had entered Indian waters about 35 nautical miles from the coast between December 18 and 20 for delivery of narcotics, surveillance revealed.

According to reports, a suspicious boat was detected on radar and intercepted around 2.30 am on December 20, 2021. Six persons on board were detained.

A search of the vessel led to seizure of five sacks containing 76.936 kg of heroin. An offence was registered under the NDPS Act and a chargesheet was filed after investigation.