Major Verdict: Six Pakistani Nationals Sentenced for Gujarat Heroin Smuggling

A Gujarat special court sentenced six Pakistani nationals to 20 years in prison for smuggling heroin worth Rs 384 crore. The men were caught in a joint operation by the Indian Coast Guard and Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad in December 2021. The court highlighted the drug's impact on youth, imposing additional fines.

In a significant ruling, a special court in Gujarat's Bhuj city handed down a 20-year prison sentence to six Pakistani nationals for heroin trafficking. The court determined that the group's actions posed a considerable threat to India's youth by promoting drug addiction.

The men were apprehended from a Pakistani fishing boat off the Gujarat coast in December 2021 following a coordinated effort by the Indian Coast Guard and the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad. The authorities captured 77 kg of heroin valued at Rs 384 crore.

Delivering justice under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, Judge V A Buddha stressed the national implications of drug abuse, also imposing fines of Rs 2 lakh on each convict. During the trial, the prosecution presented extensive evidence and witness testimonies to secure the verdict.