DRI seizes ₹100 crore crystal meth in Tamil Nadu, 4 arrested in Sri Lanka smuggling bid
Synopsis
DRI agents cracked open a coastal drug-trafficking network in Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu, seizing 137 kg of high-purity crystal methamphetamine worth ₹100 crore — allegedly packed for shipment to Sri Lanka. Four arrests, ₹10 lakh in suspected sale proceeds, and three seized vehicles point to a well-organised smuggling operation using India's southeastern coastline as a narcotics corridor.
Key Takeaways
The DRI seized 137 kg of crystal methamphetamine worth ₹100 crore from Nagapattinam district , Tamil Nadu, on 18 October 2026 .
The consignment was allegedly intended for smuggling to Sri Lanka via the coastal route.
The drug was packed in 27 silver-foil packets across six duffel bags ; samples sent for lab testing.
Four accused were arrested under the NDPS Act, 1985 and remanded to judicial custody. ₹10 lakh in cash, two four-wheelers , and one two-wheeler were also seized from the suspected organiser's premises.
Officials called it one of the biggest narcotics seizures on Tamil Nadu's coast in recent years.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Sunday, 18 October 2026, seized 137 kg of crystal methamphetamine — valued at approximately ₹100 crore in the illicit drug market — from a coastal village in Nagapattinam district, Tamil Nadu, and arrested four individuals under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. The consignment was allegedly destined for smuggling to Sri Lanka, according to DRI officials.
How the Operation Unfolded
The seizure followed specific intelligence inputs indicating that a large consignment of narcotic substances had been transported to a coastal location in Nagapattinam for storage and onward export. Acting on the tip-off, DRI teams conducted a targeted search of the coastal site, leading to the recovery of six duffel bags containing 27 silver-foil packets, each weighing approximately 5 kg.
The packets contained a white crystalline substance suspected to be methamphetamine of high purity. Samples were dispatched for laboratory analysis to confirm the substance and its purity grade, DRI said in a statement.
What Else Was Seized
In a simultaneous search at the premises of the suspected organiser, DRI officers recovered ₹10 lakh in cash, which is believed to represent proceeds from the drug trade. Investigators also seized two four-wheelers and one two-wheeler that were allegedly used to transport the contraband to the coastal storage point.
The Network Dismantled
According to the DRI, the operation exposed a multi-layered trafficking network involving persons responsible for organising the coastal export, as well as those handling transportation, storage, and logistics. All four accused have been remanded to judicial custody under the NDPS Act.
Officials described the haul as one of the largest narcotics seizures in Tamil Nadu's coastal region in recent years, adding that the operation underscores the DRI's sustained focus on preventing India's coastline from being used as a corridor for illicit drug trafficking toward island nations.
Broader Context
This seizure comes amid heightened concern over the Bay of Bengal route emerging as a preferred channel for synthetic drug flows between South and Southeast Asian networks and Sri Lanka, which has faced a growing methamphetamine crisis. Crystal meth — also known as 'ice' — commands a premium on the Sri Lankan black market, making the Tamil Nadu coast a strategically attractive transit point. Notably, DRI and other central agencies have stepped up coastal surveillance operations in Tamil Nadu over the past two years, resulting in several major drug busts in the region.
The latest operation is expected to prompt further investigation into the supply chain's origin, with the DRI likely to pursue links to upstream suppliers and financiers of the consignment.
Point of View
But the scale — 137 kg in a single consignment, reportedly organised with dedicated logistics and a coastal export network — signals that trafficking groups are scaling up. The DRI's intelligence-led approach is commendable, but each seizure also raises an uncomfortable question: how many consignments cleared the same route before this one was intercepted? Without systematic coastal surveillance infrastructure and inter-agency coordination with Sri Lankan authorities, disrupting one node rarely collapses the broader network.
NationPress
18 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What drugs were seized by the DRI in Tamil Nadu?
The DRI seized 137 kg of crystal methamphetamine, a banned synthetic drug, from a coastal village in Nagapattinam district, Tamil Nadu. The contraband was valued at approximately ₹100 crore in the illegal drug market.
Where was the drug consignment allegedly headed?
According to DRI officials, the consignment was allegedly destined for Sri Lanka via a coastal smuggling route from Nagapattinam. The operation uncovered a network organised for the storage and export of the narcotics.
How many people were arrested in the DRI drug bust?
Four individuals were arrested under the provisions of the NDPS Act, 1985 and subsequently remanded to judicial custody. DRI officials said the arrests covered persons involved in organising, transporting, and storing the contraband.
What else was recovered apart from the drugs?
In addition to the 137 kg of crystal methamphetamine, DRI officers seized ₹10 lakh in cash believed to be drug sale proceeds, two four-wheelers, and one two-wheeler that were allegedly used to transport the narcotics to the coastal storage site.
Why is the Tamil Nadu coast significant for drug trafficking?
Tamil Nadu's southeastern coastline lies along a key maritime corridor between South Asia and Sri Lanka, making it a preferred transit route for synthetic drug trafficking networks. Officials say DRI has intensified coastal surveillance in the region following a series of major drug seizures in recent years.
