DRI seizes 15.59 kg amphetamine, cocaine and heroin in 3 operations; 5 arrested
Synopsis
Three covert operations by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence across Madhya Pradesh, Hyderabad, and Jalandhar netted 15.59 kg of amphetamine, cocaine, and heroin — hidden in a spare tyre, chocolate tubes, and a backpack — and led to five arrests, exposing how smugglers are deploying increasingly creative concealment tactics across India's road, air, and transit corridors.
Key Takeaways
The DRI seized a combined 15.59 kg of contraband drugs — amphetamine, cocaine, and heroin — in three operations on 4 October 2026 .
7.116 kg of amphetamine was recovered from a spare tyre of a Mahindra Thar after a 1.5-hour high-speed chase in Madhya Pradesh ; 3 arrested .
4.9 kg of cocaine was found hidden inside chocolate tubes in the cabin baggage of a passenger arriving from Doha at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad ; 1 arrested .
3.574 kg of heroin was recovered from a suspect's backpack near Phillaur, Jalandhar ; 1 arrested .
All five persons were arrested under the NDPS Act, 1985 ; the seized vehicle and substances are in custody pending further investigation.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized a combined 15.59 kg of dangerous contraband — including amphetamine, cocaine, and heroin — across three separate intelligence-led operations, the Finance Ministry announced on Sunday, 4 October 2026. A total of five persons have been arrested under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
High-Speed Chase in Madhya Pradesh Yields 7.116 kg Amphetamine
In the first operation, the DRI, operating alongside the Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN), intercepted a Mahindra Thar at the Ujjain–Dewas Toll Plaza in Madhya Pradesh on suspicion of carrying amphetamine. When signalled to stop, the driver broke through the barricade and fled, triggering a high-speed pursuit lasting approximately 1.5 hours.
Officers successfully intercepted the vehicle near Bicholi Mardana, Indore. A detailed search uncovered an ingenious concealment inside the spare tyre mounted on the rear door of the vehicle — officers recovered 21 packets containing 7.116 kg (gross) of a whitish-yellow crystalline substance that tested positive for amphetamine using the NDPS Field Test Kit. The vehicle was seized and all three occupants were arrested under the NDPS Act.
Cocaine Hidden in Chocolate Tubes at Hyderabad Airport
In the second operation, the DRI intercepted an Indian passenger arriving from Doha at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad, based on specific intelligence about cocaine smuggling. Examination of his cabin baggage revealed seven chocolate tubes that appeared unusually heavier than their marked weight.
On opening the tubes, officers found 207 light-yellow oval-shaped capsules concealed among the chocolates, containing a white powdery substance that tested positive for cocaine. A total of 4.9 kg (gross) of cocaine was recovered and seized, and the passenger was arrested under the NDPS Act.
Heroin Recovered from Backpack Near Jalandhar
In the third operation, DRI officers mounted coordinated surveillance near Phillaur on the outskirts of Jalandhar. After checking multiple vehicles near a bridge over the Sutlej river, the suspect was identified travelling as a passenger in a rental car-pooling taxi.
A personal search of the suspect led to the recovery of three packets concealed inside a blue backpack on his lap, each containing two smaller packets. The substance tested positive for heroin. A total of 3.574 kg of heroin was recovered and the individual was arrested under the NDPS Act.
Pattern of Intelligence-Led Seizures
The three operations span geographically diverse corridors — a highway toll plaza in central India, an international airport in the south, and a river-crossing route in Punjab — reflecting what officials describe as a broadening of smuggling networks across multiple entry and transit points. Notably, the concealment methods in all three cases — hollowed spare tyres, doctored chocolate packaging, and backpack-embedded packets — suggest increasing sophistication among smuggling operatives. This comes amid heightened inter-agency coordination between the DRI, CBN, and airport customs units. All seized substances and vehicles remain in custody as investigations continue.
Point of View
An international airport in Hyderabad, and a river-border route in Punjab — is a telling detail that mainstream coverage tends to gloss over. It indicates that drug supply chains into India are not concentrated in one corridor but are actively diversifying to reduce interdiction risk. The escalating sophistication of concealment — hollowed spare tyres, doctored branded packaging — also points to professional smuggling networks rather than opportunistic carriers. The DRI's ability to intercept across all three simultaneously suggests improved human intelligence; the real question is whether prosecution and conviction rates keep pace with arrest numbers, which has historically been the weaker link in India's narcotics enforcement chain.
NationPress
4 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What drugs did the DRI seize in these three operations?
The DRI seized a combined 15.59 kg of contraband comprising 7.116 kg of amphetamine in Madhya Pradesh, 4.9 kg of cocaine at Hyderabad airport, and 3.574 kg of heroin near Jalandhar. All three substances tested positive using standard NDPS field-testing kits.
How many people were arrested in the DRI drug operations?
Five persons were arrested across the three operations under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. Three were arrested in Madhya Pradesh, one at Hyderabad airport, and one near Jalandhar.
How was the amphetamine concealed in the Madhya Pradesh case?
The amphetamine was hidden inside the spare tyre mounted on the rear door of a Mahindra Thar. Officers found 21 packets containing 7.116 kg of the substance after intercepting the vehicle following a 1.5-hour high-speed chase from the Ujjain–Dewas Toll Plaza to Bicholi Mardana, Indore.
Where was the cocaine found, and how was it smuggled?
The cocaine was found at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad, concealed inside seven chocolate tubes in a passenger's cabin baggage. Officers discovered 207 oval-shaped capsules among the chocolates, yielding 4.9 kg of cocaine; the passenger had arrived on a flight from Doha.
What is the NDPS Act under which the arrests were made?
The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 is India's primary legislation governing the manufacture, possession, sale, transport, and use of narcotic and psychotropic substances. Offences under the Act carry stringent penalties, including lengthy prison sentences depending on the quantity of contraband involved.
