Cocaine hidden in trolley handle: Ugandan national held at Ahmedabad airport
Synopsis
DRI officers at Ahmedabad airport cracked open a trolley bag and found 981 grams of cocaine packed inside its telescopic handle and plastic supports — a concealment method designed to fool standard scans. The Ugandan passenger, who arrived on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha, had denied carrying contraband. The arrest is the latest in a string of DRI interceptions that have netted over 845 kg of narcotics across Indian airports in recent weeks.
Key Takeaways
A Ugandan national was arrested at Ahmedabad's SVPIA on 25 September 2026 after 981 grams of cocaine were found in his trolley bag.
The cocaine was concealed inside the bag's telescopic handle and plastic support components , hidden in polythene packets.
The passenger arrived on Qatar Airways flight QR-534 on 24 September and initially denied carrying any contraband.
The seizure was made under the NDPS Act, 1985 by the DRI Ahmedabad Zonal Unit acting on prior intelligence.
The DRI has recently seized more than 845 kg of narcotics and arrested 15 people in related operations across India.
Investigation is ongoing to trace the drug's source, destination, and any wider smuggling network.
A Ugandan national was arrested at Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPIA) on 25 September 2026 after the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 981 grams of cocaine allegedly concealed inside the telescopic handle and plastic support components of his trolley bag. The seizure, carried out by the DRI's Ahmedabad Zonal Unit, followed specific intelligence that led officers to intercept the passenger upon his arrival.
How the Drugs Were Found
The passenger had arrived at SVPIA aboard Qatar Airways flight QR-534 on 24 September. According to officials, he initially denied carrying any contraband when questioned. A detailed physical examination of his trolley bag, however, revealed white powdery substances packed in polythene bags and, according to the DRI, 'cleverly' concealed within the bag's telescopic handle and plastic support parts — areas unlikely to attract routine scrutiny.
The recovered substance weighed 981 grams and tested positive for cocaine. It was subsequently seized under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, and the passenger was formally arrested under the same legislation.
Investigation Now Underway
Authorities are working to establish the source of the seized cocaine, its intended destination, and whether a wider smuggling network is involved. The DRI has not yet disclosed the passenger's identity or the origin of the consignment beyond confirming his Ugandan nationality.
Part of a Broader DRI Crackdown
The Ahmedabad seizure comes days after the DRI reported a series of intelligence-led operations across India in which more than 845 kg of narcotic and psychotropic substances were seized and 15 people arrested. Among those cases was the recovery of around 5.8 kg of cocaine from an Indian passenger arriving at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport from Dubai via Doha on 15 September. The cocaine was found in nine packets inside his checked-in baggage.
In two separate operations at Mumbai airport in May, the DRI seized a combined 2.659 kg of cocaine worth an estimated ₹13.295 crore. One passenger arriving from Addis Ababa was found carrying 1.575 kg of liquid cocaine in eight pouches; a second, an African male passenger, had allegedly ingested capsules containing 1.084 kg of cocaine. Both were arrested under the NDPS Act.
Rising Trend of Concealment Tactics
The Ahmedabad case underscores a growing pattern of drug traffickers exploiting structural components of luggage — handles, frames, and support parts — rather than traditional hiding spots such as clothing or food items. Investigators say this tactic is designed to evade standard X-ray scans and physical pat-downs. Notably, international airports have seen an uptick in such intelligence-led interceptions in 2026, with African-origin routes to Gulf transit hubs emerging as a recurring channel in recent DRI cases.
Further investigation by the DRI is expected to determine whether the consignment was part of an organised network operating across multiple entry points.
Point of View
Not routine detection — which raises a question about how many similar consignments pass through without a tip-off. The clustering of African-origin, Gulf-transit routes in recent DRI cases also suggests a networked supply chain that individual arrests alone are unlikely to disrupt.
NationPress
25 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where and when was the Ugandan national arrested for cocaine smuggling?
The Ugandan national was arrested on 25 September 2026 at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad. He had arrived the previous day aboard Qatar Airways flight QR-534.
How was the cocaine concealed in the trolley bag?
According to the DRI, 981 grams of cocaine in white powder form were packed in polythene bags and concealed inside the telescopic handle and plastic support components of the passenger's trolley bag. The passenger had initially denied carrying any contraband.
What law was used to arrest the passenger?
The passenger was arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, after the seized substance tested positive for cocaine.
What is the DRI and what role did it play?
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) is India's apex anti-smuggling intelligence agency under the Finance Ministry. Its Ahmedabad Zonal Unit developed specific intelligence that led to the interception of the passenger and the subsequent seizure of the cocaine.
Are there other recent cocaine seizures at Indian airports?
Yes. The DRI recently seized around 5.8 kg of cocaine at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport on 15 September, and 2.659 kg worth ₹13.295 crore in two operations at Mumbai airport in May. Across recent operations, the DRI has seized over 845 kg of narcotics and arrested 15 people.
