DrugSeizure – NCB Intercepts Cocaine at Bengaluru Airport
DrugSeizure – The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has intercepted nearly five kilograms of cocaine at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, marking a significant success in its ongoing fight against cross-border narcotics smuggling. The seizure was made from a Brazilian passenger who had arrived in the city after travelling from São Paulo with a stopover in Doha.
Cocaine Hidden in Modified Luggage
According to officials, the agency recovered 4.776 kilograms of cocaine from the checked-in baggage of the traveller. The banned substance is estimated to be worth approximately Rs 23.88 crore in the illegal market. Investigators revealed that the drugs were concealed in an unusual manner.
Officers discovered four specially altered handbags inside the passenger’s luggage. These bags had hidden compartments lined with fabric infused with cocaine, a method designed to evade routine security checks. The concealment technique raised suspicions during inspection, prompting a detailed examination that ultimately led to the recovery.
Authorities have taken the accused into custody. Further interrogation and forensic analysis are currently underway to determine whether the individual was acting independently or as part of a larger international network.
NCB Appeals for Public Support
Following the seizure, the agency reiterated its commitment to curbing narcotics trafficking across the country. In a statement shared on social media platform X, the NCB described the operation as a major breakthrough at the Bengaluru airport.
Officials have also encouraged members of the public to report information related to illegal drug activities. Citizens can reach out through the MANAS helpline at 1933. The bureau has assured that the identity of informants will remain strictly confidential, emphasising the importance of community cooperation in tackling drug-related crimes.
Separate Crackdown in Mysuru
In a related development, the NCB recently dismantled an inter-state drug trafficking network in Mysuru. The operation not only exposed a supply chain spanning multiple states but also led to the discovery of a clandestine drug manufacturing facility.
During the raid, officials seized narcotics estimated to have a street value of around Rs 10 crore. In addition to the drugs, authorities confiscated Rs 25.6 lakh in cash, a Toyota Fortuner SUV believed to have been used in the operation, and more than 500 kilograms of various chemicals suspected to be linked to drug production.
The agency confirmed that investigations in the Mysuru case are continuing, with efforts focused on identifying additional suspects and tracing the broader distribution network. Officials believe the lab was part of a well-organised syndicate engaged in large-scale production and interstate supply of prohibited substances.
Rising Vigilance at International Gateways
The latest airport seizure underscores heightened surveillance measures at major international transit points in India. Kempegowda International Airport, one of the country’s busiest aviation hubs, has seen increased coordination between law enforcement and customs authorities in recent years.
Drug trafficking routes often exploit international connections and transit points, making airports critical checkpoints in the fight against narcotics smuggling. The use of modified luggage and chemically infused materials reflects evolving tactics employed by traffickers to bypass detection.
Law enforcement agencies have responded by upgrading screening technology and intensifying intelligence-based operations. Officials say that collaboration with international counterparts is also playing a key role in identifying suspicious travel patterns and preventing illegal consignments from entering the country.
With investigations ongoing in both the Bengaluru and Mysuru cases, authorities have signalled that further arrests and disclosures may follow. The NCB maintains that sustained vigilance, combined with public cooperation, remains essential to disrupting the networks that fuel the illegal drug trade.