- 2 kg cocaine seized in Surat; one trafficker arrested under the NDPS Act as anti-narcotics crackdown gathers momentum
- Coordinated operations across airports, railways, courier hubs and highways lead to 22 arrests, including 14 foreign nationals
- International Day Against Drug Abuse underscores India’s intensified drive towards a ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat’
NE LEGAL BUREAU
SURAT, JUNE 26
Marking another major breakthrough in India’s war against narcotics, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized 2 kg of cocaine in Surat and arrested one person under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, in an operation aimed at dismantling organised drug trafficking networks.
The latest seizure forms part of an intensified nationwide crackdown that has seen the DRI seize approximately 26 kg of cocaine and arrest 22 persons, including 14 foreign nationals, in coordinated operations conducted since May 2026.
The enforcement drive spanned multiple locations, including Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur, Patna, Kochi, Ahmedabad and Surat, covering airports, railway stations, courier terminals and highways to intercept sophisticated narcotics supply chains.
Investigators uncovered a range of concealment techniques adopted by traffickers to evade detection. These included ingesting drug-filled capsules or pellets, hiding narcotics inside household articles and edible products, soaking drugs into fabrics, and concealing contraband in baggage and courier consignments.
The DRI said its sustained intelligence-based operations are focused on dismantling organised syndicates engaged in trafficking narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, reinforcing the Government of India’s vision of a “Nasha Mukt Bharat” (Drug-Free India).
The successful operation coincides with the observance of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on June 26. Instituted by the United Nations in 1987, the day seeks to strengthen international cooperation against illicit drug trafficking while raising awareness about the devastating consequences of substance abuse across societies.
The DRI reiterated that its coordinated enforcement actions would continue with renewed intensity to disrupt transnational drug networks and protect the country from the growing threat of narcotics trafficking.
