New Delhi: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized 22 kg of cocaine from a foreign female passenger arriving in New Delhi from Sierra Leone, exposing an alleged international drug smuggling attempt involving forged diplomatic credentials.
According to the Ministry of Finance, the operation was conducted following specific intelligence inputs. The passenger allegedly posed as a diplomatic courier and attempted to use the appearance of official diplomatic privileges to avoid airport security scrutiny.
Cocaine Hidden in a Diplomatic Mail Box
- According to the DRI, the passenger was carrying a large briefcase type box marked with the words “Diplomatic Mail” and “Do Not Open Without Authority”.
- She also reportedly produced documents claiming that the consignment belonged to a United Nations diplomatic courier. The documents were suspected to be forged.
- Acting on intelligence inputs, DRI officers examined the briefcase following due procedure and discovered 22 packets concealed beneath multiple layers of plastic wrapping.
- The recovered substance, consisting of white, brick shaped packets, tested positive for cocaine during field testing.
22 Kg Cocaine Seized
- The DRI confirmed the seizure of 22 kg (net weight) of cocaine, estimated to be worth several crores of rupees in the illicit international market.
- The entire consignment was seized under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
Passenger Arrested Under NDPS Act
- The foreign passenger was arrested under the NDPS Act and produced before the competent court.
- The case has exposed an alleged attempt to exploit diplomatic style documentation and institutional privileges to facilitate international narcotics trafficking.
- The DRI said it remains committed to identifying new smuggling routes, acting on intelligence inputs and dismantling international drug-trafficking networks.
Investigation and Wider Implications
- The seizure highlights continuing challenges faced by Indian enforcement agencies in preventing international drug trafficking.
- The use of alleged forged diplomatic credentials also raises concerns about attempts by criminal networks to misuse the identity of international institutions to move illegal consignments across borders.
- Further investigation is expected to establish the wider network behind the attempted smuggling operation.
Source: Press Information Bureau (PIB), Ministry of Finance, Government of India, November 12, 2026.
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