DRI Busts ₹62-Crore Cocaine Racket In Mumbai, Arrests Consignment Receiver Linked To International Syndicate

In a significant development, the officers of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) Mumbai have arrested the receiver of the consignment of Rs 62 crore cocaine that was seized last week from a woman passenger who had arrived from Doha.

Intelligence was gathered by DRI, Mumbai which indicated that one lady passenger P.L. Lal (42), a resident of Palghar, travelling from Doha to Mumbai might have concealed some narcotics substance covered under Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in her luggage/body.

Acting on the said intelligence, the DRI officers on Monday last intercepted Lal after she arrived at the airport. A thorough examination of her baggage led to the recovery of 6 oreo boxes and 3 chocolate boxes. On opening, all nine boxes were found to contain capsules filled with a white powdery substance purported to be Cocaine. A total of 300 such capsules were recovered. Total 6261 grams of cocaine with an estimated value of Rs 62.6 crore in illicit market was recovered and seized.

The seized drug The seized drug

In her statement, Lal stated that she was to deliver the seized 6261 grams of cocaine to Mira Road resident Shanti Enock Oduro at a pre-decided place in Mira Road Area. "Lal also said that she had delivered contraband concealed in similar biscuit/chocolate packings to Shanti on earlier occasion as well. We then recorded statement of Shanti wherein she said she knows Lal and was to received the bags seized from her at Mira Road at early morning of 14.07.2025. She also accepted receiving drugs in similar packing from Lal on earlier occasion," said a DRI source.

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"Shanti was aware that smuggling of illegal drugs into India attracts stringent punishment, however, she was confident that she would not apprehend by enforcement authorities as she had done the same on earlier occasion and also getting handsome amount of quick and easy money in lieu of this. The forensic examination of the electronic device recovered from Shanti were conducted and the data extracted was thoroughly examined. She has been confronted with the retrieved data, which has resulted in further leads about the prospective mastermind and other members of this syndicate," the agency source said.

Preliminary investigation conducted so far has further revealed that a larger international syndicate has been involved in the smuggling of Cocaine into India. Some of the accomplices of the accused, who had abetted to the crime, are yet to be apprehended. Persistent efforts are on to apprehend the said persons, officials said.