Cocaine Worth ₹51.94 Crore Seized at Mumbai Airport; Foreign National Arrested

In a major drug bust, the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Mumbai Customs apprehended a foreign national at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on June 2 after recovering cocaine worth ₹51.94 crore concealed in a waist belt and calf supporters.

The operation was carried out based on specific intelligence received by the AIU. The accused was intercepted shortly after arrival and subjected to a detailed personal search. During the examination, officials discovered four packets containing a white powdery substance ingeniously hidden in specially designed ortho support gear worn on the waist and calves.

A preliminary test using a narcotics field testing kit confirmed the substance to be cocaine. The total weight of the seized drug was 5,194 grams. According to officials, the contraband holds an estimated street value of ₹51.94 crore in the illicit market.

Following the seizure, the accused was placed under arrest under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. The identity and nationality of the accused have not been disclosed yet as further investigations are underway.

The AIU has stepped up surveillance at Mumbai Airport in recent months, responding to an uptick in international drug trafficking attempts through air routes. In previous cases, smugglers have used creative concealment methods such as false baggage bottoms, body cavities, and even ingestible capsules. The use of medical gear, as seen in this case, points to increasingly sophisticated smuggling techniques.

Authorities suspect the involvement of a larger international drug syndicate and are currently tracking the source and intended recipients of the contraband. Coordination with national and international agencies is expected to follow as part of the wider probe.​