DRI raids across India: ₹3.5 crore in foreign currency, 13,000 vapes, drugs and elephant tusks seized

A notebook that looks ordinary. A suitcase packed for an international flight. A consignment labelled as cleaning equipment. Sometimes, the most routine-looking objects conceal something far more valuable — or illegal.

That was the pattern across a series of operations conducted by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in Kolkata, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Assam. In separate seizures announced by the Ministry of Finance on November 10, the agency recovered foreign currency worth around ₹3.51 crore, nearly 13,000 e-cigarettes valued at more than ₹4 crore, 6.642 kg of amphetamine and two elephant tusks.

The operations targeted suspected foreign currency violations, prohibited imports, drug trafficking and illegal wildlife trade.

Kolkata airport seizure: Passengers allegedly hide ₹3.51 crore in dollars and pounds

One of the biggest recoveries took place at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata. On November 6, DRI officers intercepted seven passengers preparing to travel to Bangkok and recovered foreign currency worth approximately ₹3.12 crore.

According to the Finance Ministry, the passengers had concealed US dollars and British pounds inside notebooks, hidden compartments in trolley bags, shoes and clothing. Officials said the travellers could not produce documents establishing lawful possession of the currency.

A separate interception at the airport yielded another ₹39 lakh, taking the total recovery to around ₹3.51 crore. All seven passengers in the first interception were arrested under the Customs Act and applicable foreign exchange regulations.

JNPT port raid: Nearly 13,000 banned e-cigarettes disguised as 'Mop Rod'

At Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Maharashtra, investigators intercepted an import consignment declared as "Mop Rod". A closer examination allegedly revealed that the shipment contained 6,000 Yuoto Thanos and 7,000 Yuoto Lens e-cigarettes concealed among the declared goods.

The devices, along with the cover cargo, were valued at more than ₹4 crore.

The seizure adds to a growing crackdown on illegal vape imports. The Finance Ministry said the DRI had seized approximately 3.55 lakh e-cigarettes worth more than ₹135 crore across ports, airports and inland container depots in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi and West Bengal during 2026-27.

Import, sale, distribution and several other activities involving electronic cigarettes are prohibited under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019.

Bhopal drug bust: 6.642 kg of amphetamine found in passenger's luggage

In another operation, DRI officers intercepted a passenger travelling by bus from Delhi to Bhopal on November 5. A search of his luggage led to the recovery of 6.642 kg of amphetamine concealed in three plastic packets.

The passenger was arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. The ministry also said investigators discovered that he was already out on bail in another NDPS case registered by Bengaluru Police.

Assam elephant tusk seizure: Suspects escape after allegedly threatening DRI officers

The wildlife trafficking operation unfolded near Sonapur Toll Gate, around 27 km from Guwahati. On November 5, officers recovered two elephant tusks weighing approximately 3.7 kg.

According to the ministry, five suspects travelling on two-wheelers allegedly threatened pursuing officers with sharp weapons before abandoning a bag containing the tusks and escaping. The recovered ivory was handed over to the Assam State Forest Department for further investigation.

Elephants are protected under India's Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, while international trade in their ivory is restricted under CITES regulations.

Together, the seizures expose how suspected smuggling networks operate through airports, shipping containers, road transport and illegal wildlife channels. For the DRI, the challenge now is not simply recovering contraband, but tracing the networks and people behind these consignments.

(With inputs from ANI)