The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Friday seized 82.53 kilograms of high-grade cocaine, estimated to be worth ₹900 crore, in Delhi. The significant haul was announced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the social media platform X.
Amit Shah highlighted the operation as part of the government’s ongoing commitment to a drug-free India. “The back-to-back major breakthroughs against illegal drugs in a single day show the Modi government’s firm resolve to build a drug-free Bharat. Today, the NCB confiscated 82.53 kg of high-quality cocaine in New Delhi, worth approximately ₹900 crore. This massive drug consignment was tracked down using a bottom-to-top approach after drugs were first seized at a courier center in Delhi,” Shah said.
He also emphasized that the government’s crackdown on drug syndicates would continue without compromise. “Our fight against drug rackets will continue ruthlessly,” he added.
According to the NCB’s statement, the investigation revealed that the drug syndicate involved in the operation was being run by individuals based abroad. A portion of the drugs was intended to be shipped to Australia via courier and small cargo services. The network was largely made up of hawala operators who used pseudonyms for day-to-day communications related to the drug trade.
Earlier in the day, the NCB also seized approximately 700 kilograms of methamphetamine, a synthetic narcotic, from Indian territorial waters off the Gujarat coast near Porbandar. This consignment, valued between ₹2,500 crore and ₹3,500 crore, led to the arrest of eight foreign nationals, who claimed to be Iranian nationals.
This latest seizure adds to a series of significant drug busts in India. On October 13, the Delhi and Gujarat Police seized 518 kilograms of cocaine, valued at ₹5,000 crore, from Gujarat’s Ankleshwar, resulting in the arrest of five individuals.
Additionally, on October 1, Delhi Police’s Special Cell conducted a raid in Mahipalpur, recovering 562 kilograms of cocaine and 40 kilograms of hydroponic marijuana. Further investigation led to the recovery of 208 kilograms of cocaine on October 10, hidden inside snack packets at a shop in Ramesh Nagar, Delhi.
Amit Shah congratulated the Delhi and Gujarat police for their successful operations, which collectively led to the seizure of drugs worth ₹13,000 crore. He reiterated that the government’s efforts to combat the narcotics trade would remain relentless. “The hunt against drugs and narco-trafficking will continue with no laxity,” he said.