The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence's Mumbai Zonal Unit has seized 547 grams of suspected cocaine and methaqualone and arrested two foreign nationals in connection with an alleged drug trafficking operation spanning Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, officials said on Friday.
The action followed intelligence about the suspected interstate movement of narcotics. DRI officers subsequently placed areas around Mira Road under surveillance and intercepted a Kenyan woman who had arrived in Mumbai by bus from Indore.
A Nigerian national was also intercepted at the location. According to the DRI, he had allegedly arrived to collect the consignment from the woman.
DRI acts on intelligence about suspected drug movement
Officials said the operation was launched after the DRI received specific intelligence regarding the transportation of narcotics between Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
Based on the information, officers established surveillance at Mira Road, a suburban area in Mumbai, where they tracked the suspected movement of the consignment.
The Kenyan woman was intercepted after arriving by bus from Indore. The Nigerian national was also present at the location and was allegedly waiting to receive the delivery, officials said.
The DRI has not disclosed details about how long the alleged trafficking route had been operating or whether the two arrested individuals had been linked to any previous narcotics cases.
Two packets found during luggage search
A search of the woman's luggage led to the recovery of two packets bearing "LV" markings, according to the DRI.
The packets contained a white crystalline substance weighing a total of 547 grams.
Field tests conducted using Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) diagnostic kits indicated the presence of cocaine and methaqualone, officials said.
The contraband was subsequently seized for further investigation and testing.
Kenyan woman and Nigerian national arrested
Both foreign nationals were arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, in connection with the seizure.
The DRI said further investigation was underway to determine the source and intended destination of the narcotics and to identify others who may have been involved in the alleged operation.
Authorities are also examining whether the case is linked to a wider trafficking network operating across states or involving international connections.
Investigators working to identify wider network
The agency said investigators were attempting to trace the alleged downstream links of the seized consignment and map the broader network connected to the suspected trafficking operation.
Officials are expected to examine the supply chain and identify the individuals responsible for transporting, receiving and distributing the narcotics.
The DRI has not yet disclosed whether additional arrests are likely or whether more consignments are suspected to have moved along the same route.
Probe underway into suspected trafficking route
The seizure highlights the continuing efforts by enforcement agencies to track the movement of narcotics across state borders and identify networks involved in their transportation and distribution.
The DRI said its investigation would focus on establishing the full extent of the alleged trafficking operation, including the source of the drugs and their intended recipients.
(With inputs from ANI)
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