DRI seizes 522 kg cannabis worth ₹2.61 crore in Nagpur, two held
Synopsis
DRI officers cracked open a hidden compartment in a long-platform truck at a Nagpur toll plaza and pulled out 522 kg of cannabis — part of a supply chain allegedly running from the Odisha–Andhra Pradesh border deep into Maharashtra. Two arrests have been made, but investigators say the syndicate runs wider.
Key Takeaways
The DRI Nagpur Regional Unit seized over 522 kg of cannabis valued at ₹2.61 crore on 6 June 2025 .
The contraband was hidden in a specially designed compartment inside a truck intercepted at the Mathni toll plaza , Nagpur district .
The drug consignment was allegedly moving along the Odisha–Central India corridor toward Maharashtra .
Two accused have been arrested under the NDPS Act, 1985 ; investigations to identify other syndicate members are ongoing.
The bust follows a 104.9 kg cannabis seizure in Bihar on 31 May and a ₹4.26 crore cocaine haul in Nagpur on 13 April .
The Nagpur Regional Unit of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) busted an interstate drug smuggling syndicate on Saturday, 6 June, seizing over 522 kg of cannabis valued at approximately ₹2.61 crore. Two individuals linked to the network have been arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
How the Bust Unfolded
Acting on specific intelligence inputs, DRI officials intercepted a long-platform truck travelling from the Odisha–Andhra Pradesh border toward Maharashtra along National Highway 53. The vehicle was stopped at the Mathni toll plaza near Mouda in Nagpur district.
A thorough search of the truck revealed over 522 kg of cannabis concealed inside a specially designed hidden compartment — indicating a professionally organised trafficking operation rather than an opportunistic run.
The Syndicate and the Route
According to DRI officials, the contraband was allegedly being transported as part of an interstate drug trafficking network operating along the Odisha–Central India corridor and supplying narcotics to Maharashtra. The two accused allegedly admitted their involvement in the illegal transportation during questioning, according to officials.
Investigators are continuing to probe the case to identify other members of the syndicate. Further arrests have not been ruled out.
Part of a Wider DRI Anti-Drug Drive
This seizure is not an isolated incident. The DRI has conducted a series of major anti-narcotics operations in recent months, reflecting intensified enforcement along Central India's drug supply routes.
On 31 May, DRI officers seized 104.9 kg of cannabis in Bihar and arrested two accused in connection with that case. Earlier, on 13 April, the Nagpur Regional Unit dismantled a separate interstate trafficking racket, seizing 853 grams of cocaine valued at an estimated ₹4.26 crore.
That April operation targeted a female Indian national travelling aboard Train No. 22692, the Hazrat Nizamuddin–KSR Bengaluru Rajdhani Express. DRI officers intercepted her when the train passed through Nagpur Railway Station on 12 April and requested she deboard at Ajni Railway Station for a detailed search. Officials discovered 50 yellow-coloured sealed capsules concealed inside two shampoo bottles in her luggage; testing confirmed the presence of cocaine.
What Happens Next
The two accused arrested in Saturday's cannabis seizure remain in custody as investigations continue. DRI officials have indicated that the probe is focused on mapping the full extent of the Odisha–Central India–Maharashtra supply chain, with further action expected as the inquiry progresses.
Point of View
Cannabis in a false truck compartment, and a Bihar ganja haul — point to a supply network that has grown sophisticated enough to warrant concealment engineering. The Odisha–Central India–Maharashtra corridor has emerged as a recurring thread, suggesting a structural route rather than isolated consignments. The real question is whether arrests at the carrier level are disrupting the syndicate or merely replacing foot soldiers while the organising layer remains intact. Until the DRI publicly accounts for syndicate-level prosecutions, the headline seizure numbers risk understating the depth of the problem.
NationPress
22 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the DRI seize in Nagpur on 6 June 2025?
The DRI seized over 522 kg of cannabis valued at approximately ₹2.61 crore from a truck intercepted at the Mathni toll plaza near Mouda in Nagpur district. The contraband was concealed in a specially designed hidden compartment inside the vehicle.
Who was arrested in the Nagpur cannabis case?
Two individuals allegedly linked to the interstate drug smuggling syndicate were arrested. They have been charged under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, and investigations are ongoing to identify other syndicate members.
Which drug trafficking route was the syndicate using?
According to DRI officials, the network was operating along the Odisha–Central India corridor, transporting narcotics from the Odisha–Andhra Pradesh border toward Maharashtra via National Highway 53.
How does this seizure fit into DRI's recent anti-drug operations?
It is the latest in a series of major DRI operations. On 31 May, the agency seized 104.9 kg of cannabis in Bihar, and on 13 April the Nagpur unit seized 853 grams of cocaine worth ₹4.26 crore from a passenger on the Rajdhani Express. The pattern indicates stepped-up enforcement across Central India.
What law covers the arrested accused?
The two accused have been arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, which governs offences related to the production, possession, sale, and transport of controlled substances in India.
