DRI nets 740 kg cannabis in multi-city crackdown, 13 held

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has dismantled a major drug trafficking network with the seizure of approximately 740 kg of cannabis and charas in a series of coordinated operations across the country. The crackdown, conducted over the past fortnight, resulted in the arrest of 13 individuals under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

The haul comprised 709.6 kg of regular cannabis, 24.5 kg of high-grade hydroponic cannabis, and 5 kg of charas. The Ministry of Finance confirmed that the agency executed eight major operations, intercepting illicit consignments moving through road, rail, and air corridors.

One of the largest seizures occurred on September 8 near Raipur, where officers intercepted two trucks arriving from Visakhapatnam. A search of the vehicles uncovered 61 packets of cannabis hidden inside 10 sacks, leading to the confiscation of 375.95 kg of the narcotic and the arrest of four individuals. Earlier, on August 26, authorities in the same corridor had impounded a truck and seized approximately 124 kg of concealed cannabis.

Enforcement action on highways was not without resistance. During an operation on the Aurangabad–Patna Highway near Patna between September 5 and 6, personnel chased down a truck after its occupants attacked the intercepting team, injuring one officer. The driver managed to escape, but a search revealed a secret cavity behind the driver's cabin containing 90 packets of ganja, totalling 140.5 kg.

Transit checks extended to northern networks as well. Near Ludhiana, Punjab, officers discovered 67 packets of cannabis weighing around 69 kg hidden in floor cavities of a car, leading to two arrests. In a separate operation at Gorakhpur Railway Station on September 3, screening of passengers on the Amarnath Express led to the recovery of 5 kg of charas. Two women had concealed the substance in knee-cap coverings bound to their thighs beneath their sarees; initial investigations traced the contraband to Nepal.

Aviation routes were also targeted. Over the last 15 days, three separate airport operations in Hyderabad and Bengaluru intercepted passengers arriving from Hanoi, Vietnam, and Bangkok, Thailand. These operations resulted in the confiscation of 24.6 kg of high-potency cannabis and the arrest of three couriers.

The sustained interdictions underscore the agency's focus on curbing narcotics distribution networks that exploit the country's transport infrastructure.