In a shocking incident, a woman caught smuggling ₹62 crore cocaine at Mumbai airport has drawn national attention. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) arrested the woman passenger on July 14, 2025, at Mumbai International Airport. She had traveled from Doha and was found to be carrying over 6 kilograms of cocaine, cleverly hidden inside what appeared to be regular grocery items.
The woman caught smuggling ₹62 crore cocaine at Mumbai airport was intercepted after DRI officers received a credible intelligence tip. According to the official DRI report, they had prior information that an Indian female passenger arriving from Doha on the said date might attempt to bring narcotics into the country.
DRI Operation Details: How the Woman Was Caught
DRI Mumbai officials acted swiftly on the intelligence input and kept close watch at the arrival terminal. As the woman exited, her luggage was examined. Inside her bag were six large boxes of Oreo biscuits and three boxes of chocolates. A thorough inspection led to a disturbing discovery — all nine boxes were stuffed with capsules filled with a white powdery substance.
Upon testing, the field kit confirmed that the white substance was cocaine. In total, 300 capsules were found in the boxes. The cumulative weight of the seized narcotics was 6261 grams, with an estimated street value of ₹62.6 crore in the international illicit drug market.
This is not the first time such an operation has been busted. But the fact that such a large consignment was packed in such an everyday, innocuous-looking manner makes this case stand out.
Packaging Technique: Oreo & Chocolate Box Trick
The woman caught smuggling ₹62 crore cocaine at Mumbai airport used an increasingly common trick among international drug traffickers — hiding drugs in processed food packaging. Officials suspect a highly organized smuggling network operating in collaboration with handlers in India and abroad.
Experts say this level of packaging sophistication indicates a deep understanding of airport scanning protocols. Smugglers often use dense food materials to blur X-ray images or use multiple layers of packaging to confuse sniffing dogs.
Previous Similar Incidents at Mumbai Airport
Just weeks before this case, on June 22, DRI Mumbai arrested a male passenger from Sierra Leone, who had ingested 1139 grams of cocaine — worth ₹11.39 crore — in capsule form. He was caught and immediately admitted to a hospital, where the capsules were safely retrieved.
Another case on June 20 involved a Nigerian woman, who was traveling by bus from Delhi to Mumbai. A 50-kilometre-long DRI surveillance operation led to her arrest. Cocaine was found hidden in her belongings after a late-night raid.
Legal & Investigative Follow-Up
In the case of the woman caught smuggling ₹62 crore cocaine at Mumbai airport, she has been arrested under the NDPS Act (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act). A further probe is underway to identify her connections, potential recruiters, and the final destination of the seized narcotics.
Officials believe such mules are often promised large sums of money or are coerced into smuggling due to debt or threats. In many cases, the arrested individuals are merely pawns in a large international network.
Rising Trend of Drug Mules in India
India has been increasingly witnessing attempts to smuggle drugs via air routes, with Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru airports becoming hotspots. The woman caught smuggling ₹62 crore cocaine at Mumbai airport is a stark reminder of how advanced these networks have become.
DRI and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) have been jointly running anti-smuggling operations, but the agencies now urge citizens and frequent travelers to stay alert and avoid being used as carriers, knowingly or unknowingly.
The woman caught smuggling ₹62 crore cocaine at Mumbai airport has highlighted the evolving tactics of global drug cartels. The use of common snack boxes to hide such high-value narcotics is alarming and underlines the need for robust airport security and international cooperation. With growing threats, agencies like DRI continue to play a vital role in keeping such dangerous elements at bay.
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