DRI Intensifies Anti-Narcotics Drive in Kerala under Operation Chakravyuh; 24 kg Narcotic Contraband Seized; 5 Arrested
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📌 Summary:
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Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Cochin Unit, seized over 24 kg of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances under "Operation Chakravyuh" at Kochi, Malappuram and Thiruvananthapuram
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Contraband seized: methaqualone, methamphetamine and hashish oil — all intended for illicit distribution and trafficking
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Five individuals (including key trafficking-network operatives) arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985
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Smuggling modes detected: passenger baggage at airport, concealment in courier consignments, and outbound export cargo — pointing to use of multi-channel trafficking routes
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Cumulative track record (FY 2024–25): DRI Cochin Zonal Unit seized narcotics worth ~Rs. 70.76 crore in Kerala and arrested 21 persons under NDPS cases
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Operation aligns with the Government''s "Nasha Mukt Bharat" (Drug-Free India) vision and India''s commitment to dismantling organised drug trafficking through international and domestic channels
🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 Internal Security — organised crime and drug trafficking as non-traditional security threats; coastal States like Kerala face high vulnerability due to long coastline and busy international air/sea connectivity.
📝 Prelims Facts:
- DRI = apex anti-smuggling intelligence agency under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), Ministry of Finance
- NDPS Act, 1985: amended in 1988, 2001, 2014; provides for stringent punishment with mandatory minimum sentences
- "Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan" (NMBA) was launched on 15 August 2020 by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
- Methaqualone is a banned synthetic sedative; methamphetamine is a Schedule-I psychotropic substance
🔑 Key Term: Operation Chakravyuh — DRI''s sustained anti-narcotics enforcement operation targeting trafficking networks through coordinated multi-channel surveillance (baggage, courier, cargo) and arrests across drug-route geographies.
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