NewzVille Desk
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized 137 kg crystal methamphetamine, a banned synthetic drug, from a coastal village in Nagapattinam district, Tamil Nadu.
Acting on specific intelligence, DRI officers conducted an intensive surveillance and enforcement operation during 16–17 October 2026, successfully uncovering a suspected coastal drug-trafficking network attempting to smuggle the narcotic substances to Sri Lanka.
The consignment was intended to be smuggled to Sri Lanka through mid-sea transfer. The value of the seized contraband in the illicit drug market is estimated to be in excess of Rs 100 crore.
The operation followed specific intelligence indicating that a large consignment of narcotic substances had been transported to a coastal location in Nagapattinam district for storage and onward smuggling to Sri Lanka.
A subsequent search led to the recovery of six duffel bags containing 27 silver-foil packets, with each weighing approximately 5 kg were recovered. The packets contained a white crystalline substance suspected to be methamphetamine of high purity.
The contraband was seized under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
In a simultaneous search at the premises of the suspected organiser, DRI officers seized Rs. 10 lakh in cash suspected to represent sale proceeds. Two four-wheelers and one two-wheeler allegedly used for transporting the narcotic substance were also seized.
Four persons, have been arrested under the provisions of the NDPS Act, 1985, and remanded to judicial custody.
