MUMBAI: A special court here on Wednesday sentenced eight Pakistani nationals to 20 years imprisonment in a 2015 case of seizure of more than 200 kg of drugs valued at nearly Rs 7 crore. Special judge for NDPS Act cases, Shashikant Bangar, convicted the eight persons for offenses committed under the anti-drug law.
They were handed 20-year jail term, maximum under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 2 lakh on each of the convicts.
In 2015, the Indian Coast Guard apprehended the accused from a boat carrying 232 kg of heroin valued at Rs 6.96 crore off the Gujarat coast. As per the prosecution, there were 11 drums on the boat with 20 plastic pouches containing a wheatish brown color powder.
The contents of each packet were tested, which revealed it to be heroin, it said. The eight Pakistan nationals were also found in possession of three satellite phones, GPS navigation charts, among other electronic devices.
They were later handed over to the Yellow Gate police in south Mumbai. Special Public Prosecutor Sumesh Punjwani sought maximum punishment for the accused, saying it can be a lesson for other drug traffickers.
The defense counsel, however, submitted that a lenient view be taken. After hearing both the sides, the court refused to show leniency and sentenced the eight accused to maximum punishment.