NIA court acquits 6 Pak nationals arrested in 2019 for smuggling 218kg heroin

A special NIA court in Ahmedabad acquitted six Pakistani fishermen and one Indian fisherman accused of smuggling 218 kg of heroin off the Gujarat coast in 2019.

The court cited gaps in the prosecution's account of the seizure of the contraband.

The six Pakistanis were convicted under the Foreigners Act and Passport (Entry Into India) Rules for entering India without valid documents.

They were sentenced to eight years of rigorous imprisonment under Section 14A(b) of the Foreigners Act.

The seven years they have already spent in custody will be set off against the sentence.