DRI seizes Rs 7.5cr marijuana at Bhubaneswar airport, net 2 men

Bhubaneswar: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Saturday seized 8 kg of marijuana valued at about Rs 7.5 crore in the international market after intercepting a Mumbaikar, who alighted from a Bangkok flight at Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA), officials said.

Acting on a tip-off, DRI officers detained him for inspection and recovered the contraband from his possession. The marijuana was packed in aluminium foil wrappers, a method, investigators said, was often used to conceal the substance during transit.


Sources said the consignment was allegedly meant to be handed over to a receiver from Kerala. After the seizure, officers questioned the Mumbai man and launched a search operation to trace the intended recipient, who was believed to be in Bhubaneswar to collect the shipment.

Officials said the suspected receiver attempted to evade detection by frequently changing locations and switching off mobile phones. DRI personnel tracked him for several hours and eventually detained him after a 5-hour chase. An official described the operation as a significant breakthrough, citing the detention of both the carrier and the alleged receiver as a key outcome of the case.

The seizure is the latest in a series of drug interdictions at the city airport. Ahead of the New Year, DRI recovered marijuana worth around Rs 4 crore from another international passenger. In that case, the contraband was reportedly concealed inside luggage.