DRI Seizes 56 kg Methamphetamine at Nava Sheva Port Bound for Saudi Arabia, Two Arrested

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has foiled a major attempt to smuggle approximately 56 kg of methamphetamine to Saudi Arabia after intercepting an export consignment at Nava Sheva Port.

Acting on specific intelligence, DRI officers examined the export cargo at the port and recovered the contraband in powdery form. The entire haul of recovered narcotics was seized under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

Investigators found that the narcotic substance had been ingeniously mixed with maize inside one of the 351 bags comprising the consignment. DRI officials noted that blending the psychostimulant with an agricultural commodity was a deliberate tactic designed to avoid detection during routine examinations.

"The method of concealment — mixing a large quantity of Methamphetamine inextricably with maize and disguising the consignment as an ordinary agricultural commodity — represents a distinctive modus operandi intended to evade routine examination and detection during export," a DRI official said.

Following the recovery, a swift investigation led officers to identify and arrest two individuals involved in the operation: the exporter and the transporter/freight forwarder. Investigators revealed that the transporter had been coordinating directly with an overseas buyer for the transportation and customs clearance of the export cargo.

Both individuals were arrested under the NDPS Act for their respective roles in the attempted drug trafficking operation.

Methamphetamine is a potent synthetic psychostimulant with high potential for abuse and dependence. Health authorities note that illicit use can lead to severe physical and psychological issues, including elevated blood pressure, increased heart rate, paranoia, psychosis, and serious health complications.