Massive Drug Bust: DRI Seizes ₹47 Crore Cocaine Hidden in Coffee at Mumbai Airport, Five Nabbed

Mumbai, November 1, 2025 - The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has delivered a significant blow to international drug trafficking networks by seizing a high-value consignment of cocaine at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), Mumbai. The narcotics, weighing 4.7 kilograms and estimated to be worth approximately ₹47 crore in the illicit market, were confiscated from a female passenger arriving from Colombo.

Acting on precise intelligence, DRI officers intercepted the woman shortly after her arrival. A thorough examination of her baggage led to the discovery of nine pouches containing a white powdery substance. The contraband was ingeniously concealed within coffee packets, an increasingly common method used by syndicates to camouflage narcotics and evade detection. Field testing confirmed the substance to be cocaine.

The operation quickly expanded into a coordinated follow-up, resulting in the swift apprehension of four additional members of the syndicate. Those arrested include an individual who had arrived at the airport to receive the consignment, along with three others involved in the financing, logistics, and distribution network of the smuggled drugs. All five individuals have been arrested under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

This seizure aligns with a concerning trend observed by the DRI, where international drug cartels are exploiting Indian women as couriers and utilizing everyday edibles and food items to transport contraband.

Further investigation is actively underway to uncover the extent of the wider transnational syndicate orchestrating this elaborate smuggling attempt. The DRI reiterated its commitment to the vision of "Nasha Mukt Bharat," vowing to relentlessly disrupt narcotics supply chains to safeguard the nation's youth, economy, and national security.