DRI seizes ₹3.41 crore narcotics at Pune Railway Junction, woman arrested
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized suspected narcotic drugs valued at approximately ₹3.41 crore and arrested a woman passenger at Pune Railway Junction on 25 August in an intelligence-led operation, officials confirmed. The interception was carried out by the DRI's Pune Regional Unit, operating under the Mumbai Zonal Unit.
How the Operation Unfolded
Acting on specific intelligence inputs, DRI officers conducted surveillance and identified the suspect — an Indian woman — during the early hours of 25 August. The passenger had boarded a train from Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station in Delhi and was passing through Pune when she was intercepted.
A thorough search of her baggage led to the discovery of two distinct substances. Officers recovered 2,532 grams (gross weight) of a white and yellow crystalline material suspected to be amphetamine, along with 878 grams (gross weight) of multi-coloured tablets suspected to contain 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA).
Legal Action and Seizure Details
The recovered substances were seized under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. The woman was subsequently placed under arrest. Investigators are now working to establish the source of the drugs, their intended destination, and any wider links within the trafficking network, according to officials.
Broader Enforcement Context
Officials said the operation underscores the DRI's sustained focus on intelligence-driven enforcement against illicit drug smuggling and trafficking. The agency framed the seizure within the broader mandate of the government's Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, a national campaign aimed at curbing drug abuse and protecting public health.
Notably, railway corridors have emerged as a recurring vector for inter-city narcotics movement, with enforcement agencies increasingly deploying intelligence-based interception at major junctions. Further details are expected to emerge as the investigation progresses.