• DRI seizes 22 kg of cocaine at New Delhi airport.
• Foreign woman passenger arrives from Sierra Leone.
• Suspect allegedly uses forged UN diplomatic courier documents.
• Passenger arrested under the NDPS Act, 1985.

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 13th Nov: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized 22 kg of cocaine from a foreign woman passenger arriving from Sierra Leone at New Delhi airport, exposing an alleged attempt to use forged diplomatic credentials to smuggle narcotics into India.

According to the DRI, the passenger claimed to be a diplomatic courier and carried a large briefcase-type box bearing markings such as “Diplomatic Mail” and “Do Not Open Without Authority”. She also presented documents purportedly showing that the consignment belonged to a United Nations diplomatic courier.

Acting on specific intelligence, DRI officers examined the briefcase following due procedure. The search led to the recovery of 22 packets concealed beneath multiple layers of plastic wrapping. Field testing confirmed the presence of cocaine in the white, brick-shaped substance.

The total seizure weighed 22 kg net and was valued at several crores of rupees in the international illicit market. The narcotics were seized under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

The passenger was arrested under the NDPS Act and produced before the competent court.

The operation exposed an alleged smuggling method involving forged diplomatic documents and markings intended to avoid routine airport scrutiny.

The DRI said it remains focused on identifying new trafficking routes, strengthening intelligence-led enforcement and dismantling international drug networks attempting to misuse institutional privileges for illegal activities.