On November 1, 2023, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) announced it had foiled a high-value smuggling bid at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), Mumbai. DRI seized 4.7 kg of cocaine valued at approximately ₹47 crore in the illicit market, from a female passenger arriving from Colombo. The cocaine was concealed inside coffee packets. Following a coordinated operation, DRI apprehended four additional individuals linked to the smuggling network, including the person who came to receive the consignment. All five accused have been arrested under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. The DRI continues its investigation to dismantle the larger syndicate. Release ID: 2185024. Visitor Counter: 1892.
Key Entities Referenced
Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI): The primary investigating agency responsible for seizing the narcotics.
Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985: The law under which the accused have been arrested.
Mumbai: Location where the narcotics were seized at the airport.
Nasha Mukt Bharat: A vision towards disrupting narcotics supply chains and safeguarding the country’s youth, economy and national security.
Ministry of Finance
DRI foils high-value smuggling bid of cocaine
in coffee; ₹47 crore narcotics seized at Mumbai
airport, five arrested
Posted On: 01 NOV 2025 10:15AM by PIB Delhi
In a major blow to international drug trafficking networks, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence
(DRI) has seized 4.7 kg of cocaine, valued at approximately ₹47 crore in the illicit market, from a
female passenger arriving from Colombo at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport
(CSMIA), Mumbai.
Acting on specific intelligence, DRI officers intercepted the passenger shortly after her arrival and
subjected her baggage to detailed examination. The scrutiny led to the discovery of nine pouches of a
white powdery substance cleverly concealed inside coffee packets. Preliminary testing with the NDPS
field kit confirmed the substance to be cocaine.In a swift and coordinated follow-up operation, the DRI apprehended four additional persons of the
syndicate — one who had come to the airport to receive the consignment and three others linked to
the financing, logistics, and distribution network of the smuggled narcotics. All five accused have
been arrested under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act,
1985).
Some of the recent seizures by DRI indicate a concerning trend wherein international drug syndicates
are increasingly exploiting Indian women as couriers, while concealing narcotics within food items
and everyday edibles to camouflage the contraband and evade detection.Further investigation is underway to uncover the wider transnational syndicate orchestrating the
smuggling attempt. The DRI remains steadfast in its mission to dismantle such networks and is
committed to the vision of “Nasha Mukt Bharat”, by relentlessly disrupting narcotics supply chains
and safeguarding India’s youth, economy, and national security.
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NB/KMN
(Release ID: 2185024) Visitor Counter : 1892
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