Mrudula Narale
The operation, that busted a sophisticated smuggling racket involving passengers from Bangkok, is a major set-back to illicit drug trade in the area.
Pune |May 15, 2025: On 12 May 2025, DRI authorities, after receiving accurate intelligence, arrested two passengers at Mumbai airport upon their return from Bangkok. On the thorough search of their luggage, 11 airtight packets weighing 9,864 grams of green ganja seed, a highly priced international narcotic, were found. The two passengers, who were both residents of Mumbai, were immediately taken into custody. The first seizure led to the revelation of an extensive syndicate, and an investigation was launched.
Based on tips from the arrests, DRI carried out a raid at a Mumbai home, where they arrested a third person suspected of being a distributor. The raid produced 478 grams of hashish and ganja, taking the total seizure to 10.3 kilograms of drugs. The seized drugs, which have an estimated international market price of ₹10.3 crore, show the magnitude of the operation. The three have been arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act), and remanded in police custody until May 23, 2025, as the investigation continues.
The operation underscores the growing challenge of international drug smuggling routes, with Bangkok emerging as a key source for narcotics entering India. The use of airtight pouches to conceal the drugs indicates a calculated effort to evade detection, a tactic increasingly employed by trafficking networks. The DRI’s swift action, driven by actionable intelligence, prevented these narcotics from reaching the streets, potentially averting significant harm to communities.
This bust also demonstrates the key significance of inter-agency coordination to combat drug trafficking. The success of the DRI to trace the syndicate from airport interceptions to a distributor’s home evidences the power of focused investigations. The intercepted narcotics, ganja seed, and hashish, are notoriously popular in black markets both local and global in scale, rendering this seizure significantly crippling the supply chain.
The authorities are presently trying to reveal the extent of the syndicate, including the possibility of its connection to larger international cartels. The arrests are an explicit warning to illegal drug dealers, with the DRI increasing efforts to track and intercept smuggling routes. As the case moves forward, officials plan to identify more accomplices and break up financial networks funding such operations.
The successful operation reinforces the DRI’s commitment to curbing the menace of drug trafficking, protecting public safety, and upholding the rule of law. With the trio in custody, the focus remains on ensuring that justice is served and further trafficking attempts are thwarted
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