India's Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has intercepted two major drug consignments worth a combined $3.8mn in northeastern India. The seizures were part of a larger anti-drug operation targeting organised trafficking networks in the region, according to a press release.

In the Indian state of Assam, 26kg of methamphetamine tablets valued at $3.1mn were recovered from a concealed compartment in an Ashok Leyland truck at Dwarband Bazar in Cachar district. The vehicle was intercepted in collaboration with the Assam Rifles. Authorities confirmed the arrest of one individual under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS), 1985. Separately, a second raid near Agartala, Tripura, led to the discovery of 6kg of methamphetamine, worth $700,000, hidden beneath a truck’s dashboard.

Two suspects were apprehended in this case. From April 2024 to January 2025, the DRI has intensified its efforts against narcotics trafficking in India's northeastern states, an area plagued by smuggling routes linked to the Myanmar border. Over this period, the agency has seized over 231kg of methamphetamine, 16 kg of heroin, 1,375kg of cannabis, and 3.7kg of hydroponic weed, with a combined street value exceeding $42.6mn.

In total, 70 individuals, including seven women, have been arrested, and 32 vehicles implicated in the crimes have been confiscated. A notable trend identified in recent months is the smuggling of hydroponic weed into northeastern India via air passengers.

Unlike traditional methods, hydroponic cultivation relies on nutrient-enriched water rather than soil, yielding a more potent product. These cases underline the DRI's commitment to dismantling drug syndicates and curbing cross-border narcotics trafficking. Legal proceedings have been initiated under the NDPS Act, with further investigations ongoing.