Authorities in Tamil Nadu have seized 137 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine worth approximately Rs 1 billion from a coastal village in Nagapattinam district. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) conducted the operation after receiving specific intelligence about the large consignment being stored for shipment to Sri Lanka.

During the raid, officials recovered six duffel bags containing 27 silver-foil packets, each weighing around 5 kilograms. Preliminary tests indicated the powder inside as high-purity methamphetamine, a banned synthetic drug under Indian law. The accused individuals—four in total—were arrested under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, and have been remanded to judicial custody.

In addition to the methamphetamine, DRI officers seized Rs 1 million in cash believed to be proceeds from drug sales. The agency also confiscated two four-wheelers and one two-wheeler reportedly used to transport the narcotic substances.

The operation exposed various facets of the drug trafficking network, including those responsible for organizing the coastal export, transportation, storage, and logistics of the smuggling attempt. Officials emphasized that the crackdown both disrupted a significant volume of contraband drugs and dismantled a key trafficking channel linking southern India with Sri Lanka. The investigation is ongoing to identify additional participants and further details of the network’s operations.