DRI Busts Multi-State Narcotics Syndicate, Seizes Record 270 kg Mephedrone Worth Rs. 81 Crore; Six Arrested.
New Delhi:
In a major crackdown on drug trafficking networks, officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) have busted a well-organised multi-state narcotics syndicate and seized a record 270 kilograms of Mephedrone, a synthetic narcotic drug, valued at approximately Rs. 81 crore in the illicit market. The operation was carried out across multiple states on January 11 and 12, 2026.
According to official sources, the contraband was being transported domestically in a truck under the guise of agro-based cargo. The drug syndicate had adopted a novel modus operandi by concealing the narcotics beneath a consignment of chicken feed, using it as cover cargo to evade detection by enforcement agencies.
Acting on specific and actionable intelligence, DRI officers intercepted the truck in Rajasthan. A detailed and thorough examination of the vehicle led to the recovery of 270 kilograms of Mephedrone ingeniously concealed within the chicken feed consignment. The driver of the truck, along with members of the syndicate involved in transporting and escorting the consignment, were apprehended on the spot.
Subsequent follow-up searches were conducted at multiple locations in Haryana, which resulted in the apprehension of other key members of the syndicate. These individuals were found to be involved in the manufacturing and supply chain of the seized narcotic substance. During the searches, officers also recovered raw materials from a dismantled clandestine drug manufacturing facility, indicating large-scale illegal operations.
The operation was described as logistically complex and demanding, involving sustained surveillance, precise execution, and close inter-state coordination. The seizure of such a large quantity of narcotics and the arrest of six key members have led to the unravelling of a sophisticated and well-coordinated narcotics syndicate operating across several states.
In the current financial year 2025–26, the DRI has intensified its action against illicit drug manufacturing and has already busted six clandestine factories involved in the illegal production of synthetic drugs. These include Mephedrone manufacturing units in Latur in April 2025, Bhopal in August 2025, and Wardha in December 2025; Alprazolam units in Vapi in November 2025 and Hyderabad in October 2025; and a Methamphetamine unit in Greater Noida in October 2025.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence has reiterated its unwavering commitment to combating drug manufacturing and trafficking and to achieving the objectives of the ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan’. Officials emphasized that narcotic drugs pose a serious threat to public health, national security, and the socio-economic fabric of the country. As the apex anti-smuggling agency, the DRI continues to rely on intelligence-driven enforcement and coordinated nationwide action to curb the menace of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
