The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized more than 845 kg of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in a series of operations across India, targeting trafficking routes involving Nepal, Southeast Asia and West Asia.
The seizures, carried out during September, included large consignments of cannabis and ganja, along with charas, cocaine and amphetamine-type stimulants. A total of 15 people have been arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, according to the Ministry of Finance.
The operations highlight the range of routes and concealment methods being used to move drugs into and across the country, with seizures made at railway stations, airports, and highways, and varied concealment techniques, ranging from agricultural commodities and clothing to apparently ordinary consumer containers, being busted.
Cannabis accounts for bulk of seizures
The largest seizure was made on September 17 near Jindapur Toll Plaza in Bodh Gaya, where DRI officers intercepted a container truck and recovered about 752.3 kg of ganja concealed in rice husk. The cannabis was packed into 737 packets. The truck, its contents and the concealment material were seized, and the driver was arrested.
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In a separate operation in Odisha, DRI officers working with the Ghariyaband Forest Department recovered about 48.5 kg of ganja from two people near Mentri village on September 11. The drugs were packed in 25 packets and carried in three sacks. A scooter allegedly used to transport the consignment was also seized.
Customs authorities, acting on intelligence shared by the DRI, separately seized about 28 kg of high-grade cannabis or hydroponic weed at Mumbai and Bengaluru international airports. Four passengers arriving from Thailand and Vietnam were arrested.
Charas seized at Gorakhpur railway station
The DRI also intercepted two women travelling on the Jan Nayak Express at Gorakhpur railway station on September 20 following intelligence about the smuggling of charas or hashish from Nepal.
Around 6 kg of the substance was allegedly concealed in knee caps wrapped around their thighs and hidden beneath their sarees, according to the Finance Ministry. Both passengers were arrested.
Cocaine consignment intercepted at Delhi airport
At Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, the DRI intercepted an Indian passenger arriving from Dubai via Doha on September 15.
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A search of the passenger’s checked baggage led to the recovery of around 5.8 kg of white powder packed in nine packets. The substance tested positive for cocaine during field testing, and the passenger was arrested.
Amphetamine seizures across three cities
The agency also reported a series of operations involving amphetamine and amphetamine-type stimulants, with cumulative seizures of about 4.5 kg.
In Mumbai, DRI officers intercepted an Indian woman travelling from Delhi on September 16 and recovered about 493 grams of pills concealed inside bottles labelled as baby powder. The pills tested positive for amphetamine/ecstasy, according to the release.
At Calicut airport, officers recovered around 1.9 kg of amphetamine from a passenger’s baggage on September 9. A subsequent operation led to the arrest of the alleged receiver and organiser, with another 17 grams of amphetamine and Rs 3.45 lakh in cash recovered from their possession or vehicle.
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On the same day in Indore, DRI officers intercepted a passenger travelling by bus from Delhi and recovered about 2 kg of amphetamine concealed inside salwar-suit sets. The passenger was arrested.
The Finance Ministry said the operations were aimed at disrupting organised trafficking networks and intercepting consignments at different stages of their movement.