Officers from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) have dealt severe blows to organised smuggling networks, recovering contraband ranging from protected wildlife parts and psychotropic drugs to illicit foreign currency and prohibited e-cigarettes.
High-Speed Pursuit in Assam: Elephant Tusks Recovered
On the evening of November 5, 2026, DRI officers mounted an operation near the Sonapur Toll Gate, approximately 27 km from Guwahati, following actionable intelligence regarding the movement of illegal wildlife products. Officers spotted five suspects riding two-wheelers, with one carrying a suspicious bag.
When challenged, the suspects turned violent—brandishing traditional blades, including a Khukri and a Dao, at pursuing officers. After a dangerous chase, the armed suspects abandoned the bag and escaped into a nearby village.
A search of the discarded bag yielded two raw elephant tusks measuring 29 and 30 inches, with a combined weight of 3.7 kg. Protected under Schedule I of India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and Appendix I of CITES, the tusks were seized and handed over to the Assam State Forest Department for further investigation.
Massive Vape Bust at JNPT Port Worth Over Rs 4 Crore
Continuing its relentless crackdown on illicit imports, DRI officers at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) in Maharashtra intercepted a major import container declared to contain “Mop Rods.”
Upon detailed examination, officers discovered 6,000 units of “Yuoto Thanos” and 7,000 units of “Yuoto Lens” branded electronic cigarettes concealed behind the cover cargo. The 13,000 prohibited e-cigarettes and cover cargo—valued at over Rs 4 crore—were seized under the Customs Act.
The sale and import of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) remain strictly banned in India under the 2019 Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act. DRI officials noted that for the current fiscal year 2026–27 alone, the agency has seized over 3,55,000 e-cigarettes worth upwards of Rs 135 crore across key hubs in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi, and West Bengal.
Repeat Offender Nabbed with 6.6 kg Amphetamine in Bhopal
In another operation on November 5, DRI officers intercepted an interstate bus travelling from Delhi to Bhopal. A search of a targeted passenger’s luggage revealed three silver-colored plastic packets containing 6.642 kg of a white crystalline substance.
Field testing with an NDPS test kit confirmed the substance to be amphetamine, a high-potency psychotropic drug controlled under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. The passenger was arrested on the spot. Further background checks revealed the suspect was already out on bail for a prior narcotics case registered by the Bengaluru Police, pointing to involvement in a persistent drug trafficking syndicate.
Foreign Currency Syndicate Busted at Kolkata Airport
Targeting illegal outflows of wealth, DRI officers struck Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata during the early hours of November 6, intercepting seven passengers bound for Bangkok.
Concealed inside double-layered compartments of trolley bags, shoe soles, notebooks, and hidden clothing pockets, officers uncovered a massive haul of US Dollars and British Pounds valued at Rs 3.12 crore. Unable to provide proof of lawful possession, all seven syndicate members were arrested under the Customs Act read with FEMA regulations.
Additionally, intercepting a second group of passengers led to the recovery of foreign currency equivalent to Rs 0.39 crore, bringing the total airport currency recovery to Rs 3.5 crore.
Commitment to National Security and Economy
The rapid succession of successes underscores the DRI’s multifaceted mandate—protecting endangered biodiversity, preventing public health hazards, combating drug syndicates, and safeguarding the nation’s economic frontiers against illicit capital flight.
