Rs 100 Crore Drug Haul: DRI Busts Massive Crystal Meth Network in Tamil Nadu
DRI busts a coastal trafficking network in Nagapattinam, seizing 137kg of crystal meth worth Rs 100 crore destined for Sri Lanka.
In a major blow to international narcotics trafficking, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has intercepted a massive shipment of crystal meth seizure in Tamil Nadu's Nagapattinam district. The operation resulted in the recovery of 137 kg of high-purity crystal methamphetamine, with an estimated street value exceeding Rs 100 crore.
The Coastal Operation
The crackdown took place over two days, on October 16 and 17, following precise intelligence reports. Officials had received tips that a substantial quantity of narcotics had been moved to a coastal village in Nagapattinam. The drugs were allegedly being stored there temporarily before being smuggled out of India to Sri Lanka via a mid-sea transfer.
During the targeted search, DRI officers discovered six duffel bags. Inside these bags were 27 silver-foil packets, each weighing roughly 5 kg, containing a white crystalline substance identified as methamphetamine.
Arrests and Additional Seizures
The Ministry of Finance confirmed that four individuals have been arrested in connection with the smuggling attempt. All four suspects have since been remanded to judicial custody.
The operation didn't stop at the drugs. In a simultaneous raid on the premises of the suspected mastermind, officers uncovered and seized:
- Cash: Rs 10 lakh, believed to be the proceeds from previous drug sales.
- Vehicles: Two four-wheelers and one two-wheeler used for the transportation of the contraband.
Disrupting the Maritime Corridor
According to the Ministry, the investigation has exposed a sophisticated network. This group was allegedly responsible for the entire logistics chain, including the organization of the coastal export, secure storage, and the physical transportation of the drugs.
The primary objective of this network was to utilize India's coastline as a corridor to move narcotics into Sri Lanka. By intercepting this shipment, the DRI has not only removed a significant amount of contraband from circulation but has also disrupted a coordinated trafficking ring.
Legal Action and Enforcement
The 137 kg of methamphetamine was seized under the strict provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. This recovery stands as one of the most significant narcotics seizures in the coastal region of Tamil Nadu in recent years, underscoring the government's intensified efforts to secure maritime borders against organized crime.