Indian Navy’s INS Tarkash intercepts, seizes 2,500 kg narcotics in western Indian Ocean

Indian Navy‘s warship ‘INS Tarkash’ successfully interdicted and seized over 2,500 kg of narcotics in the the Western Indian Ocean. Photo: X/@indiannavy

The Indian Navy’s frigate INS Tarkash has intercepted and seized over 2,500 kg of narcotics in the Western Indian Ocean, the Navy said on Wednesday (April 2, 2025).

“On March 31, 2025, while on patrol, INS Tarkash received multiple inputs from Indian Navy P8I maritime patrol aircraft regarding suspicious vessels operating in the area believed to be involved in illicit activities, including narcotics trafficking. In response, the ship altered its course and after systematically interrogating all suspicious vessels in the vicinity, INS Tarkash intercepted and boarded a suspect dhow. Further search and interrogation revealed over 2,500 kg of narcotic substances (including 2386 kg of hashish and 121 kg of heroin) stored in different cargo holds and compartments onboard the vessel,” the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

The Navy also said that INS Tarkash has been deployed in the western Indian Ocean since January 2025 for maritime security operations and was actively supporting Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, which is part of the Bahrain-based Combined Maritime Forces (CMF). The ship participating in the multi-national forces joint focus operation, Anzac Tiger, the Ministry added.