**Summary:**
On July 18, 2025, officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) Bengaluru Zonal Unit, acting on intelligence, intercepted an Indian male passenger arriving from Doha at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru. Examination of the passenger's baggage revealed approximately 4,006 grams (over 4 kg) of cocaine concealed within two superhero comic magazines. The seized cocaine has an estimated international market value of Rs. 40 crore. The passenger was arrested under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, and remanded to judicial custody on July 18, 2025. The seizure was executed by the Ministry of Finance DRI.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Finance: The Union Ministry responsible for economic and financial matters in India.
Directorate of Revenue Intelligence: The apex anti-smuggling intelligence and enforcement agency of the Government of India.
Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru: An international airport serving Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
Bengaluru Zonal Unit: Zonal Unit of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in Bengaluru.
Doha: Capital city of Qatar, the origin of the passenger.
NDPS Act: Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, the Indian law that prohibits a person from producing, possessing, selling, purchasing, transporting, storing, and/or consuming any narcotic drug or psychotropic substance.
NDPS Act, 1985: Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, the Indian law that prohibits a person from producing, possessing, selling, purchasing, transporting, storing, and/or consuming any narcotic drug or psychotropic substance. The year indicates when the act was passed.
cocaine: A strong stimulant most frequently used as a recreational drug. The illicit substance seized by DRI.
Ministry of Finance
DRI seizes over 4 kg of cocaine worth Rs. 40 crore
from passenger at Kempegowda International
Airport, Bengaluru; one arrested
Posted On: 19 JUL 2025 10:45AM by PIB Delhi
Acting on specific intelligence, officers of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) Bengaluru Zonal
Unit intercepted an Indian male passenger, who arrived from Doha at Bengaluru International
Airport in the early hours of 18.07.2025.
On careful examination of his baggage, it was observed that the pax was carrying two superhero comics/
magazines which were unusually heavy. The officers carefully recovered white powder concealed in
coverside of magazines.
The powder tested positive for cocaine. The recovered cocaine weighing 4,006 grams (over 4 kg) and having
an international market value of around Rs. 40 crore was seized under the provisions of the NDPS Act.
The passenger was subsequently arrested under the provisions of the NDPS Act, 1985 and was remanded to
judicial custody on 18.07.2025.
****
NB/KMN
(Release ID: 2146001)