The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), under the Ministry of Finance, has announced a major crackdown on illegal cannabis trafficking across India. Over a two-week period ending early September 2026, the DRI conducted eight operations that led to the seizure of approximately 740 kilograms of cannabis and charas, with 13 arrests made under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.
What was seized and where
The total haul comprised 709.6 kg of cannabis (ganja), 24.5 kg of high-grade hydroponic cannabis, and 5 kg of charas. Operations took place across multiple states and airports.
- On 8 September 2026, DRI intercepted two trucks near Raipur coming from Vishakhapatnam, yielding 375.95 kg of cannabis and four arrests.
- On 26 August 2026, another 124 kg of cannabis was recovered from a truck near Raipur, resulting in one arrest.
- During 5-6 September 2026, officers pursuing a truck on the Aurangabad-Patna Highway discovered 140.5 kg of ganja hidden in a secret cavity; one officer was injured during the interception.
- On 1-2 September 2026, 69 kg of cannabis was found concealed in floor cavities of a vehicle near Ludhiana, Punjab, with two arrests.
- On 3 September 2026, 5 kg of charas was recovered from three passengers on the Amarnath Express train at Gorakhpur Railway Station; the charas had been smuggled from Nepal.
- At Hyderabad and Bengaluru airports over the fortnight, approximately 24.6 kg of high-potency cannabis was seized from passengers arriving from Vietnam and Thailand, leading to three arrests.
What this means for you
These operations demonstrate that drug trafficking networks remain active across road, rail and air transport routes in India. The DRI’s focus on disrupting smuggling through vehicle cavities, train compartments and airport terminals shows that intelligence-based enforcement continues against narcotic trafficking. Travellers and transport operators should be aware that authorities are actively monitoring known smuggling methods and routes.