The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Friday claimed to have laid hands on five alleged drug traffickers, including four Nigerian nationals and an Indian woman, and seized around 8.6 kg of narcotics valued at Rs 7.1 crore in the international illicit market, officials said.

The operation, according to officials, was carried out in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh and has reportedly helped dismantle a foreign drug trafficking syndicate that allegedly recruited Indian citizens to transport consignments across the country.

Woman nabbed at Bhopal railway station

As per officials aware of the development, acting on specific intelligence that a woman travelling by train from New Delhi to Bengaluru was carrying narcotics in her luggage, DRI officers intercepted her at Bhopal Junction railway station on August 11.

When they inspected her trolley bag, they found a concealed cavity inside it. Six neatly packed plastic packets, securely wrapped in brown tape, were found hidden in the compartment.

The packets contained a white crystalline substance, which tested positive for methamphetamine, an amphetamine-type stimulant, using an NDPS field-testing kit.

The six packets contained as much as 6.325 kg of crystalline methamphetamine, which was seized by the DRI. The woman was subsequently arrested under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

Four Nigerians nabbed in Greater Noida

Following the seizure, a simultaneous search operation was conducted by DRI and Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) officers in Greater Noida to track down the alleged suppliers of the consignment.

According to the agency, the Nigerian suspects attempted to evade arrest after spotting the officers. They allegedly tried to escape by jumping through a window but were eventually apprehended following a foot chase by the DRI and CBN teams. A detailed search resulted in the recovery of 2.242 kg of crystalline methamphetamine, 50 grams of cocaine and 25 grams of ganja (cannabis).

Four Nigerian nationals were arrested during the operation under the provisions of the NDPS Act.

Foreign syndicate under scanner, further probe underway

The DRI described the operation as a significant breakthrough against a foreign syndicate allegedly involved in drug trafficking through the recruitment of Indian citizens.

In total, around 8.6 kg of drugs, with an estimated value of Rs 7.1 crore in the international illicit market, has been seized, while five alleged drug traffickers have been arrested.

Further investigation is underway to identify other members of the syndicate, trace the source and intended destination of the narcotics, and establish the wider network involved in the alleged trafficking operation.

The DRI said it remains committed to the Government of India’s ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan’ and to dismantling illicit drug trafficking networks operating across the country.