Mumbai, June 20, 2025 – In a major crackdown on cross-border drug trafficking, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized a massive consignment of synthetic narcotics valued at approximately ₹5 crore from a Delhi-to-Mumbai intercity bus. The operation, carried out after a tip-off and close surveillance, culminated in the arrest of a Nigerian national allegedly involved in transporting the drugs.
Acting on specific intelligence inputs, DRI officials tracked the bus over a 50-km stretch before intercepting it on the outskirts of Mumbai. A thorough search revealed 2.56 kilograms of methamphetamine and 584 grams of ecstasy hidden in everyday food items specifically oatmeal packets and juice tetra packs indicating a sophisticated concealment strategy often used in international drug smuggling.
Officials confirmed that the seized drugs are classified as synthetic stimulants frequently linked to rave culture and illicit party circuits. The packaging method and quantity suggest the consignment was intended for commercial distribution across Mumbai’s underground drug markets.
Following the seizure, a follow-up operation led to the arrest of the intended recipient of the drugs in Mumbai. Authorities are withholding the recipient’s identity due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, which they say may uncover a larger international supply chain.
The Nigerian woman has been booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and remains in custody. Investigators suspect she may be part of a larger cartel specializing in moving synthetic party drugs across major Indian metros via passenger transport routes.
DRI officials lauded the operation as a success in their continuous efforts to thwart transnational drug syndicates and curb the growing abuse of synthetic narcotics in India.
