The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 2.25 kg of cocaine valued at ₹11.25 crore and arrested four foreign nationals at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport over the past four days, officials confirmed (livemint.com). The arrests followed two separate operations based on intelligence inputs targeting drug trafficking activities.
On Friday, a male and female passenger arriving from Addis Ababa were intercepted. Both confessed to swallowing narcotic-filled capsules and were hospitalized for medical examination. Authorities recovered 84 capsules containing 1.40 kg of cocaine from their bodies. The other two suspects were apprehended in a related operation, completing the four arrests. Investigations are ongoing to identify and dismantle the domestic network behind the trafficking syndicate.
This seizure is significant given the high value and quantity of cocaine involved, highlighting Mumbai airport’s role as a transit point for international drug trafficking. The DRI’s success in intercepting these shipments underscores intensified efforts to curb narcotics smuggling amid rising concerns over synthetic drug inflows. Comparable operations in recent years have focused on disrupting such syndicates to prevent the drugs from reaching Indian markets or being re-exported.
Authorities continue their probe to track down the wider network facilitating this trafficking. The DRI is expected to expand surveillance and intelligence gathering at key entry points. Further arrests and seizures may follow as investigations progress to dismantle the entire supply chain and prevent future drug consignments from entering the country.