Customs officials at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport have seized cocaine worth nearly ₹11 crore and arrested four foreign nationals in connection with an alleged international drug smuggling operation.
According to officials, the accused were intercepted during separate operations carried out over the last few days after authorities received specific intelligence inputs regarding suspicious passenger movement at the airport. During detailed checking and medical examination, officials recovered a large quantity of cocaine that had allegedly been concealed inside capsules swallowed by the passengers.
Investigators said the total quantity of cocaine recovered was more than one kilogram, with the estimated international market value placed at around ₹11 crore. The arrested individuals are believed to be part of a larger international narcotics trafficking network operating through multiple countries.
Officials revealed that some of the accused had arrived in Mumbai from African nations through connecting international flights. During questioning, their statements reportedly raised suspicion, following which they were subjected to scanning and further medical procedures. The narcotic substance was later recovered from their bodies under medical supervision.
All four foreign nationals have been arrested under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Authorities said further investigation is underway to identify the intended recipients of the consignment and trace links to other members of the smuggling network.
Customs officials suspect that Mumbai was likely being used as a transit point for drug trafficking operations. Investigators are also trying to determine whether similar consignments had previously entered the country through the same route.
Drug smuggling through airports using body concealment methods has remained a major challenge for enforcement agencies in recent years. Officials said traffickers often recruit foreign carriers and use international transit routes to avoid detection. However, tighter surveillance, passenger profiling and intelligence-sharing have helped agencies crack down on such operations.
Authorities have intensified anti-narcotics monitoring at major Indian airports amid growing concerns over international drug trafficking networks targeting the country. Officials said more arrests could follow as investigators examine travel records, call details and financial transactions connected to the accused.
The four arrested individuals are expected to be produced before a court, while the seized cocaine has been sent for forensic examination. Officials stated that efforts are continuing to uncover the wider network behind the smuggling racket.
