India's Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has seized a whopping 349 kilograms of heroin, worth over $234 million in the international market from a Sri Lankan fishing boat, reports say. Around five Sri Lankan nationals were also arrested from the boat. 

A statement released by India’s Ministry of Defence said, “This is a major catch not only in terms of the quantity and cost but also from the perspective of disruption of the illegal narcotics smuggling routes, which emanate from the Makran coast and flow towards the Indian, Maldivian and Sri Lankan destinations.”

So far, officials have not revealed the target destination of the boat. However, initial interrogation indicated that the consignment was originated from Makran coast. The official said an Iranian ship allegedly loaded the heroin on the Sri Lankan boat, DU Shashila, further adding to the mystery. 

The Indian statement further added, “Apart from the human costs from drug addiction, the spoils of narcotics trade feed syndicates involved in terrorism, radicalization and criminal activities.”

The boat was intercepted by India Navy’s Suvarna in the high seas of the Indian Ocean and was later brought to the Cochin coast in the southern state of Kerala. The street worth of the seized drugs, NCB officials said, was over Rs 340 crore in India and around $235 million in the international market.