BREAKING NEWS

India seizes 200 kg heroin shipment on Pakistani boat

India seized 200 kg of heroin from Pakistani drug traffickers aboard a boat on the Arabian sea, a defence official said on Tuesday, in a $15 million haul that is one of the country's largest and comes as narcotic flows escalate from Afghanistan.

A joint navy and coastguard operation intercepted the vessel in Indian waters on Monday, apparently headed for the western state of Gujarat, Indian navy spokesman DK Sharma said.

"Using fishing boats to smuggle heroin is a new strategy by Pakistani smugglers," said Sharma, adding that the smugglers were using phones and GPS systems to allow trans-shipment to another boat.

Eight crew members from Pakistan were detained and were in police custody in Gujarat, he said.

The Narcotics Control Bureau, a specialized police force, said the confiscation of heroin on Tuesday was one of India's biggest recorded heroin seizures.