*New Delhi, October 2:* Prominent Shia religious scholar and leader Maulana Hassan Ali Rajani has said that it is very important to get to the bottom of the matter and expose the international drug network after about 526 kg of heroin and methamphetamine was recovered from an Iranian ship in a joint operation by the Indian Coast Guard and Gujarat ATS in the Arabian Sea.

According to Indian authorities, the operation was carried out northwest of Lakshadweep in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), where the value of the drugs seized from the Iranian ship in the international market is estimated to be over Rs 3,000 crore. Five Pakistani nationals on board the ship have also been arrested.

Maulana Hassan Ali Rajani said that the seizure of an Iranian boat with such a large consignment of drugs near Indian territorial waters is a very serious matter. A thorough investigation should be conducted into all aspects of the incident and it should be found out where the drugs were obtained, who was running their main network and who were their recipients in India.

He said that any evidence related to drug smuggling through sea routes connected to Iran should be viewed very seriously. Drug trafficking poses a serious threat to the youth, society and national security and the territory or sea routes of any country should not be allowed to be used for this purpose.

Maulana Rajani appreciated the joint operation of the Indian Coast Guard, Gujarat ATS and central intelligence agencies and said that such intelligence-based operations can play a significant role in breaking the international drug network.

He demanded that the investigation be further taken forward to reach the real source, financial backers, international contacts and potential recipients in India of the drugs recovered from the Iranian boat.

Maulana Hassan Ali Rajani said that India should further strengthen its zero tolerance policy against drugs, maritime security and international cooperation to keep Indian youth and society safe from the menace of drugs.

*Media Contact:*
Maulana Hassan Ali Rajani
Mobile: 8347799275
Email: [email protected]