Continuing its crackdown on the trafficking in narcotic drugs, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officers unearthed an international syndicate and seized 1.59 kg (gross wt.) cocaine, valued at about Rs 15 crore, in New Delhi, today. The syndicate engaged in smuggling of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) into India from Africa via Indo-Nepal border.

Acting on specific intelligence, an Indian national, who arrived in the morning of 22.03.2024 from Raxaul, Bihar, in a train at Anand Vihar Railway Station, Delhi, was intercepted and 92 pale yellow capsules containing white powdery substance were recovered. The sample test conducted using NDPS Field Testing Kit confirmed presence of Cocaine in the recovered substance.

Further enquiry revealed that the consignment was to be delivered to a person at Dwarka, New Delhi. A swift follow-up action resulted in interception of one Nigerian national, who came on a Scooty to take delivery of the NDPS at Dwarka, New Delhi.

In the instant case, the syndicate used to smuggle the contraband from African countries directly or via Dubai to Kathmandu, Nepal, via Air Route by concealing them in Trolley Bags or by ingesting capsules in body. The syndicate then used Indian nationals, who flew from New Delhi to Kathmandu to collect the contraband from pre-determined place, including hotels in Kathmandu and smuggle the same across the Indo-Nepal border. The carrier would then take the consignment to New Delhi by road or train.          

The recovered cocaine concealed in 92 capsules weighing 1.59 kg (gross wt.), valued at about Rs 15 crore, was seized and both the carrier and the recipient were arrested in accordance with the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

Further investigation is in progress.

Seizure under NDPS Act prompts arrests and probes into international drug smuggling syndicate across Indo Nepal routes. Officers intercepted and recovered multiple ingestible capsules and concealed luggage containing cocaine after targeted intelligence; field testing confirmed the controlled substance. The consignment was traced to an international syndicate transporting narcotics via air to Kathmandu and across the Indo Nepal border for onward movement into India. The recovered capsules and luggage were seized and the carrier and recipient were arrested and processed under the NDPS Act, with further investigation ongoing.