In a significant crackdown on narcotics trafficking, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has busted a well-organised, multi-state drug syndicate with the seizure of 270 kilograms of Mephedrone, a synthetic narcotic drug, valued at approximately ₹81 crore in the illicit market. The contraband was being transported domestically after being concealed beneath a consignment of chicken feed, a method officials described as a new modus operandi aimed at evading detection.
Acting on specific intelligence, DRI officers intercepted a truck late on the night of January 11–12 in Rajasthan, where it was ostensibly carrying agro-based cargo. A detailed physical examination of the consignment led to the recovery of the narcotic substance hidden inside sacks of chicken feed. The truck driver, along with members of the syndicate involved in escorting the consignment, were apprehended at the spot.
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Follow-Up Raids in Haryana Expose Manufacturing Links
Following the seizure, the DRI carried out swift follow-up operations at multiple locations in Haryana, leading to the arrest of additional key members of the syndicate. Officials said those arrested were involved not only in the transportation and distribution of the drug but also in its manufacture and supply chain.
During searches, investigators also detected signs of a dismantled clandestine drug manufacturing facility, from where certain raw materials used in the production of synthetic narcotics were recovered. The findings pointed to a well-entrenched network operating across state borders with clearly defined roles for manufacturing, logistics and distribution.
Agency sources described the operation as logistically demanding, requiring sustained surveillance, precise timing and close coordination across states. With the arrest of six key operatives, the DRI said it had managed to unravel a multi-jurisdictional narcotics syndicate active in several parts of the country.
Six Illegal Drug Factories Busted in FY26 So Far
According to officials, the latest seizure is part of a broader enforcement push against synthetic drug manufacturing. In the ongoing financial year 2025–26, the DRI has already dismantled six clandestine drug manufacturing units involved in the illegal production of Mephedrone, Alprazolam and Methamphetamine.
- Mephedrone: Latur (April 2025), Bhopal (August 2025), Wardha (December 2025)
- Alprazolam: Vapi (November 2025), Hyderabad (October 2025)
- Methamphetamine: Greater Noida (October 2025)
Officials said these actions have disrupted both ends of the supply chain — manufacturing as well as distribution — significantly impacting the availability of synthetic drugs in the illicit market.
Push Under ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan’
Reiterating its commitment to combating drug trafficking, the DRI said narcotics pose a serious threat to public health, national security and the country’s socio-economic fabric. As India’s apex anti-smuggling agency, the DRI has been intensifying intelligence-led enforcement, leveraging technology and strengthening inter-agency coordination to further the objectives of the ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan’.
Senior officials noted that the use of everyday agricultural cargo such as chicken feed as cover highlights the evolving tactics adopted by drug syndicates. In response, enforcement agencies are enhancing risk-based profiling, real-time intelligence sharing and field-level scrutiny to counter such concealment strategies.
Investigation Ongoing, More Arrests Likely
The agency said investigations are continuing to trace the source of the drugs, financial trails, wider network linkages and possible interstate or international connections. Officials indicated that further arrests cannot be ruled out based on ongoing interrogation and digital forensic analysis.
Overall, the operation is being seen as a decisive blow against organised narcotics trafficking, marking not just one of the largest Mephedrone seizures in recent times, but also a critical step towards dismantling the backbone of a sophisticated drug syndicate operating across multiple states.
About the author – Ayesha Aayat is a law student and contributor covering cybercrime, online frauds, and digital safety concerns. Her writing aims to raise awareness about evolving cyber threats and legal responses.
