Another Haul of Meth Destined for Sri Lanka Natco Trading Hub of Seized in Bhopal

Ø Major seizure at Bhopal ISBT highlights growing threat of synthetic narcotics

· The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 9.139 kg of methamphetamine and arrested one Indian passenger at Bhopal ISBT on 20 October 2026.

· Acting on specific intelligence, DRI officers intercepted a passenger travelling by bus from Delhi to Bengaluru.

· The contraband was found in 11 plastic packets concealed inside salwar suit packets, carried in two trolley bags.

· Field testing confirmed the presence of methamphetamine. The drug was seized and the accused was arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

· The seizure follows other major DRI operations involving 231.8 kg of methamphetamine tablets in the North-Eastern region and 137 kg of suspected crystal methamphetamine in Tamil Nadu.

· The operations highlight the growing threat of synthetic drug trafficking through inter-city transport, cross-border and coastal routes. DRI continues intelligence-led enforcement to dismantle drug trafficking networks.

[ABS News Service/22.10.2026]

In a significant crackdown on synthetic drug trafficking, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized 9.139 kg of methamphetamine and arrested one person at the Inter-State Bus Terminal (ISBT), Bhopal, on 20^th October 2026. The seizure highlights DRI’s sustained efforts to disrupt the movement of dangerous synthetic drugs through the country’s inter-city transport networks.

 Acting on specific intelligence, officers of DRI intercepted an Indian male passenger travelling by bus from Delhi to Bengaluru upon the bus’s arrival at Bhopal ISBT. Examination of the passenger’s baggage led to the recovery of 11 plastic packets containing crystalline methamphetamine, weighing 9.139 kg, concealed inside packets of salwar suits and carried in two mid-sized trolley bags. Field testing confirmed the presence of methamphetamine in the recovered substance, which was seized and the passenger was arrested under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

This seizure comes amid growing concerns over the trafficking of synthetic drugs in the country. In recent major operations, DRI seized 231.8 kg Meth tablets in the North-Eastern region, suspected to have been smuggled from Myanmar and 137 kg suspected crystal methamphetamine in Tamil Nadu, where the consignment was allegedly intended for onward smuggling to Sri Lanka through maritime route. These operations underscore the scale and varied routes of synthetic drug trafficking, spanning inter-city transport networks, cross border and coastal corridors.

Through sustained intelligence-led enforcement, DRI remains committed to dismantling narcotics trafficking networks and preventing dangerous drugs from reaching illicit markets.