DRI Seizes Gold, Drugs in Pan-India Crackdown; 20 Held

• DRI arrested 20 people, including five foreign nationals, in operations across India.
• Around 9.5 kg of foreign-origin gold worth nearly ₹14 crore was seized.
• Heroin, MDMA, amphetamine and about 25 kg of hydroponic weed were recovered.
• Red sanders, Guggul resin, 9,230 e-cigarettes and other restricted goods were also seized.

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 1st Aug: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized gold, narcotics, prohibited wildlife products, e-cigarettes and other contraband in a series of intelligence-led operations across India, arresting 20 people, including five foreign nationals.

The operations conducted during the week targeted organised smuggling networks and transnational trafficking syndicates operating through airports, international borders, ports and other routes.

9.5 Kg Gold Worth ₹14 Crore Seized
In a major operation at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on July 29, DRI officers intercepted two foreign nationals arriving from Dubai.

A search of their passenger trolley revealed a specially fabricated secret cavity concealed using a steel sheet and adhesive tape. Officials recovered 40 foreign-origin gold bars weighing four kg. Both passengers were arrested.

In separate operations conducted jointly with the Border Security Force along the India-Bangladesh border, around 3.2 kg of foreign-origin gold was seized and three people, including a woman, were arrested.

Another 2.2 kg of gold was seized in three operations in Varanasi, Delhi Airport and Tamil Nadu, leading to four arrests.

Overall, the agency seized around 9.5 kg of gold valued at approximately ₹14 crore and arrested nine people.

Heroin, MDMA, Amphetamine and Hydroponic Weed Recovered
In Manipur, DRI officers, assisted by Assam Rifles and Manipur Police, intercepted a vehicle near Churachandpur following intelligence about cross-border narcotics trafficking from Myanmar.

Around 2.7 kg of heroin concealed inside 220 soap cases was recovered and two people were arrested.

In Mumbai, two foreign women travelling from Delhi were intercepted in separate operations. DRI officials recovered around two kg of amphetamine crystals and MDMA tablets concealed in specially fabricated baggage cavities. Both were arrested under the NDPS Act, 1985.

In separate operations at Delhi’s IGI Airport and Calicut International Airport, officers seized around 25 kg of hydroponic weed from two passengers who had travelled from Bangkok. One of them was a foreign national. Both were arrested.

Red Sanders, Guggul Resin Seized
The DRI also uncovered an alleged attempt to illegally import around 14 metric tonnes of Pakistan-origin Guggul resin, valued at approximately ₹1.4 crore.

According to the agency, the consignment had been declared as natural resin originating from Somalia and routed through Dubai using forged documentation.

Guggul resin is listed under Appendix II of CITES and categorised as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List. Two people were arrested in connection with the case.

In another operation, DRI officials intercepted a truck on the outskirts of Chennai and recovered 142 red sanders logs weighing around 4.8 metric tonnes, concealed behind empty plastic crates.

The consignment, valued at approximately ₹2.5 crore, was seized and three people were arrested.

9,230 Prohibited E-Cigarettes Seized
At Nhava Sheva Port, DRI officers intercepted an import consignment declared as LED lights and fixtures and recovered 9,230 prohibited electronic cigarettes of different brands and flavours.

The e-cigarettes and cover cargo, collectively valued at approximately ₹3.7 crore, were seized. Electronic cigarettes are prohibited in India under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019.

Meanwhile, in Mizoram, DRI officials, assisted by Assam Rifles, searched four suspected godowns near the India-Myanmar border and recovered around 14.5 metric tonnes of foreign-origin poppy seeds and 14 metric tonnes of areca nuts, collectively valued at around ₹3.6 crore.

Preliminary investigation indicated that the goods had been smuggled into India through the Zokhawthar sector of the India-Myanmar border. The consignments were seized under the Customs Act, 1962.