Source: Press Information Bureau (PIB), Government of India — Finance Ministry PIB Delhi Read the original release on pib.gov.in
- Intelligence-based operations across the country have included a high-speed chase, the recovery of cocaine hidden in chocolate tubes and heroin from a passenger in a car-pooling taxi
Continuing its sustained crackdown on illicit drug trafficking, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized a total of 15.59 kg of dangerous narcotics, amphetamine, cocaine and heroin in three separate intelligence operations on September 29-30, 2026. Five people have been arrested under the provisions of the NDPS Act, 1985.
In a dramatic operation on 30 September 2026, DRI along with Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) stopped a Mahindra Thar car carrying amphetamine at Ujjain-Dewas toll plaza in Madhya Pradesh. On getting the signal to stop, the driver broke the barricade and ran away. The officers led a high speed chase for about one and a half hour and successfully caught him near middleman Mardana, Indore. During a thorough search of the vehicle, a cleverly hidden material was discovered inside the spare tire fitted on the rear door of the Thar car. Upon opening the tyres, officers recovered 21 packets containing a total of 7.116 kg of a white-yellow crystalline substance. It was confirmed as amphetamine in the test conducted with NDPS field test kit. The amphetamine and vehicle were seized and all three occupants were arrested under the NDPS Act, 1985.
In another operation on 29 September 2026, DRI stopped an Indian passenger coming from Doha at Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport based on specific intelligence related to cocaine smuggling. Upon examination of her cabin baggage, seven chocolate tubes were found, which weighed abnormally more than their prescribed weight. Upon opening the tube, officials found 207 light yellow oval capsules cleverly disguised with chocolate. On examination of the capsules, a white powdery substance was found, which when tested with a narcotic drug detection kit was confirmed to be cocaine. Total 4.9 kilogram cocaine Recovered and confiscated. The passenger was arrested under the provisions of the NDPS Act, 1985.
In the third operation on 29.09.2026, based on specific intelligence related to transportation of narcotics, DRI officials conducted coordinated surveillance near Phillaur on the outskirts of Jalandhar, Punjab. After several vehicles were searched near the bridge over the Sutlej river, the suspect was found traveling as a passenger in a hired car-pooling taxi.
Upon searching the suspect, three packets were recovered, each containing two small packets, hidden in a blue bag kept in his lap. When tested with a field testing kit, the substance was confirmed to be heroin. A total of 3.574 kg of heroin was recovered and the person carrying the banned substance was arrested under the NDPS Act, 1985.
These three operations demonstrate that DRI adopts an intelligence-based approach in uncovering multiple smuggling routes and innovative concealment techniques. DRI is committed to disrupting organized drug trafficking networks and curbing the movement of narcotic drugs and psychoactive substances across the country.
This is the official press release issued by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), and is published without changes.
