New Delhi: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized 137 kg of crystal methamphetamine, a banned synthetic drug, worth about Rs 100 crore from a coastal village in Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu.
In one of the biggest narcotic seizures in the coastal region in recent years, DRI officers conducted an intensive surveillance and enforcement operation during October 16-17, and uncovered a suspected coastal drug-trafficking network attempting to smuggle the narcotic substances to Sri Lanka.
The consignment was intended to be smuggled to Sri Lanka through mid-sea transfer. The value of the seized contraband in the illicit drug market is estimated to be in excess of Rs 100 crore, a finance ministry statement said.
During a subsequent search, DRI officers recovered six duffel bags containing 27 packets wrapped in silver foil.
Officials, while briefing about the operation, said that each packet weighed approximately 5 kg and contained a white crystalline substance suspected to be high-purity methamphetamine.
The contraband was seized under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
In a simultaneous search at the premises of the suspected organiser, officers also seized Rs 10 lakh in cash, suspected to represent proceeds from drug sales.
The agency further seized two four-wheelers and one two-wheeler allegedly used to transport the narcotic substance.
As per the official statement, the operation exposed a suspected trafficking network involving individuals allegedly responsible for organising the coastal export, transportation, storage, and logistics of the consignment.
Four people have been arrested under the provisions of the NDPS Act, 1985, and remanded to judicial custody.
The agency said the operation prevented a substantial quantity of suspected narcotics from entering illicit circulation and disrupted a network allegedly attempting to use India’s coastline as a route for international drug smuggling.
The seizure highlights enforcement efforts to curb organised narcotics trafficking and prevent the use of India’s coastline as a corridor for the illegal movement of drugs.
Nagapattinam, located along Tamil Nadu’s southeastern coast, faces particular surveillance challenges because of its proximity to Sri Lanka across the Palk Strait region.
The DRI said the operation demonstrated its continued efforts to identify and dismantle organised drug-trafficking networks through intelligence-led enforcement.
