DRI Mumbai seizes 547g cocaine in Mira Road bust, two foreign nationals held
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Mumbai Zonal Unit, has dismantled an alleged drug trafficking network and seized 547 grams of a white crystalline substance that tested positive for cocaine/methaqualone during an intelligence-led operation in Mira Road, Mumbai, the agency confirmed on 29 August. A Kenyan national and a Nigerian national have been arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
How the Operation Unfolded
Acting on specific intelligence, DRI officers placed the Kenyan woman under surveillance after receiving information that she was travelling by bus from Indore to Mumbai to allegedly deliver a narcotic consignment. The Nigerian national had reportedly arrived at Mira Road to receive the delivery.
DRI officers intercepted both individuals at the handover point. During examination of the Kenyan national's bag, officers recovered two packets labelled 'LV', containing a white crystalline substance with a combined weight of 547 grams. The substance was tested on-site using an NDPS field-testing kit and returned a positive result for cocaine/methaqualone, according to the agency's statement.
Arrests and Legal Action
Both the Kenyan and Nigerian nationals have been arrested under the provisions of the NDPS Act, 1985. The seized substance has been taken into custody, and the DRI said further investigation is currently underway. Investigators are working to establish the source of the substance, its intended destination, and the extent of any wider trafficking network linked to the two individuals.
What the DRI Said
In its official statement, the DRI said: 'This operation reflects DRI's continued commitment to intelligence-led enforcement against the trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, thereby disrupting drug trafficking networks and safeguarding public health and society from the menace of narcotics.'
The agency added that such operations are designed to identify and dismantle organised networks involved in the illicit movement and distribution of controlled substances, with intelligence-led surveillance described as a core enforcement tool.
Broader Context: Nasha Mukt Bharat Push
The DRI linked the Mira Road seizure to the government's wider Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, framing sustained enforcement as a means to reduce the availability and illegal circulation of narcotics. This operation comes as enforcement agencies across India have intensified action against cross-border and inter-state drug trafficking networks.
Notably, the alleged trafficking route — spanning Indore and Mumbai and involving nationals from two African countries — points to an international supply chain that investigators will now seek to map fully. Further developments are expected as the investigation progresses.