Mumbai Crime: DRI Busts Novel Attempt To Smuggle 56 Kg Methamphetamine Concealed With Maize; 2 Arrested

Mumbai, August 19, 2026 - The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) successfully thwarted an elaborate attempt to illicitly export a substantial quantity of methamphetamine from India to Saudi Arabia. Authorities recovered 56 kilograms of the powdered drug from an export consignment at Nava Sheva Port on Wednesday, as reported by DRI officials. The drug had been cleverly concealed within maize in one of the 351 bags within the consignment.

During a targeted intelligence operation conducted by DRI, two individuals were arrested. The exporter and transporter/freight forwarder responsible for coordinating the operation with an overseas buyer for transportation and customs clearance were identified. Both individuals were apprehended under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

DRI officials highlighted the novel modus operandi employed in this attempt to evade detection. By mixing a large quantity of methamphetamine with maize and presenting the consignment as an ordinary agricultural product, the traffickers sought to bypass routine examination and customs checks. Methamphetamine, a potent synthetic psychostimulant, poses significant risks to health and can lead to addiction and severe physical and psychological consequences.