DRI’s Major Operation Against Drug Syndicates in North East India: Over 231 kg Methamphetamine, 16 kg Heroin, and 1,375 kg Ganja Seized in FY 2024-25
(Judicial Quest News Network)
New Delhi 22, January 2025, In a significant crackdown against drug trafficking and organized crime in the North Eastern Region, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has arrested 70 individuals and seized a staggering quantity of illicit drugs worth over Rs. 355 crore in the current financial year (FY 2024-25). The operation, which spans multiple cases across the region, has resulted in the confiscation of 231 kg of methamphetamine tablets, 16 kg of heroin, 1,375 kg of ganja (cannabis), and 3.7 kg of hydroponic weed. Additionally, 32 vehicles, including 19 cars and 13 trucks, used for concealing and transporting these drugs, have been seized.
One of the key operations took place on January 19, 2025, when the DRI, in collaboration with Assam Rifles and Silchar authorities, successfully intercepted a major consignment of 26 kg methamphetamine tablets at Dwarband Bazar in Cachar District, Assam. The drugs, valued at approximately Rs. 26 crore, had been smuggled into India through the Indo-Myanmar border in Mizoram and were being transported in a specially built cavity inside an Ashok Leyland truck. One individual was arrested in connection with this case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.
The very next day, on January 20, 2025, the DRI conducted another successful operation in Agartala, Tripura, where they seized 6 kg of methamphetamine tablets, valued at Rs. 6 crore, concealed beneath the dashboard of a truck. Two people were arrested in this operation, marking another major victory for the DRI in its battle against drug trafficking.
Throughout FY 2024-25, the DRI has been actively pursuing and dismantling the drug trafficking networks in the region, bringing about the successful closure of 36 cases involving smuggling and trafficking of various illicit drugs. Notably, the seizures have included significant quantities of methamphetamine, heroin, ganja, and hydroponic weed, a new trend of smuggling marijuana grown in nutrient-rich water instead of soil, which is being trafficked into North Eastern India through air passengers.
On December 17, 2024, a major operation in Shillong, Meghalaya, led to the seizure of 242 kg of ganja from a truck, further adding to the growing success of the DRI in combating drug smuggling in the region.
These efforts reflect the DRI’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the region from the devastating impact of illicit drugs, and further investigations are underway. All the cases have been filed in the competent courts under the NDPS Act, with law enforcement agencies continuing to work tirelessly to disrupt drug trafficking operations and bring perpetrators to justice.
This series of operations exemplifies the DRI’s proactive stance against drug syndicates, ensuring that the North Eastern Region is not a safe haven for illicit drug trade.
