DRI Mumbai seizes 547 grams of cocaine, methaqualone; arrests two foreign nationals

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligences Mumbai Zonal Unit has seized 547 grams of suspected cocaine and methaqualone and arrested two foreign nationals in connection with an alleged drug trafficking operation spanning Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra officials said on FridayThe action followed intelligence about the suspected interstate movement of narcotics DRI officers subsequently placed areas around Mira Road under surveillance and intercepted a Kenyan woman who had arrived in Mumbai by bus from IndoreA Nigerian national was also intercepted at the location According to the DRI he had allegedly arrived to collect the consignment from the womanDRI acts on intelligence about suspected drug movementOfficials said the operation was launched after the DRI received specific intelligence regarding the transportation of narcotics between Madhya Pradesh and MaharashtraBased on the information officers established surveillance at Mira Road a suburban area in Mumbai where they tracked the suspected movement of the consignmentThe Kenyan woman was intercepted after arriving by bus from Indore The Nigerian national was also present at the location and was allegedly waiting to receive the delivery officials saidThe DRI has not disclosed details about how long the alleged trafficking route had been operating or whether the two arrested individuals had been linked to any previous narcotics casesTwo packets found during luggage searchA search of the womans luggage led to the recovery of two packets bearing LV markings according to the DRIThe packets contained a white crystalline substance weighing a total of 547 gramsField tests conducted using Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances NDPS diagnostic kits indicated the presence of cocaine and methaqualone officials saidThe contraband was subsequently seized for further investigation and testingKenyan woman and Nigerian national arrestedBoth foreign nationals were arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances NDPS Act 1985 in connection with the seizureThe DRI said further investigation was underway to determine the source and intended destination of the narcotics and to identify others who may have been involved in the alleged operationAuthorities are also examining whether the case is linked to a wider trafficking network operating across states or involving international connectionsInvestigators working to identify wider networkThe agency said investigators were attempting to trace the alleged downstream links of the seized consignment and map the broader network connected to the suspected trafficking operationOfficials are expected to examine the supply chain and identify the individuals responsible for transporting receiving and distributing the narcoticsThe DRI has not yet disclosed whether additional arrests are likely or whether more consignments are suspected to have moved along the same routeProbe underway into suspected trafficking routeThe seizure highlights the continuing efforts by enforcement agencies to track the movement of narcotics across state borders and identify networks involved in their transportation and distributionThe DRI said its investigation would focus on establishing the full extent of the alleged trafficking operation including the source of the drugs and their intended recipientsWith inputs from ANI