DRI seizes over 845 kg of narcotics in nationwide crackdown, 15 held
The DRI has seized more than 845 kg of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in intelligence-led operations across India, arresting 15 people under the NDPS Act.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized more than 845 kg of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in a series of intelligence-led operations across the country, the Ministry of Finance said on Monday. Fifteen people were arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.
The haul included ganja or cannabis, charas, cocaine and amphetamine-type stimulants, recovered from locations in several states.
The single largest seizure was made near Jindapur Toll Plaza in Bodh Gaya on September 17, where officers intercepted a container truck and recovered around 752.3 kg of ganja. The narcotics were packed in 737 packets and concealed in rice husk. The driver was arrested and the contraband along with the vehicle was seized.
In Odisha, a joint operation with the Ghariyaband Forest Department on September 11 led to the recovery of about 48.5 kg of ganja from two persons at Mentri village. Both were arrested.
Customs authorities at Mumbai and Bengaluru international airports seized around 28 kg of high-grade cannabis, also described as hydroponic weed, from four passengers who had arrived from Thailand and Vietnam. The action followed intelligence shared by the DRI.
At Gorakhpur Railway Station on September 20, DRI officers intercepted two women travelling on the Jan Nayak Express and recovered about 6 kg of charas or hashish allegedly smuggled from Nepal. The narcotics were concealed in knee caps wrapped around their thighs and hidden under their sarees.
At Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, around 5.8 kg of cocaine was seized from an Indian passenger who arrived from Dubai via Doha on September 15. The substance was found in nine packets inside checked-in baggage and tested positive for cocaine during field testing.
Separate operations in Mumbai, Calicut and Indore yielded around 4.5 kg of amphetamine-type stimulants and led to five arrests.
The ministry said the operations reflected the DRI's continued focus on disrupting organised drug-trafficking networks, intercepting narcotic consignments at different stages of their movement and detecting innovative methods of concealment.