The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) recently made a significant bust at Calicut International Airport, seizing crystal methamphetamine worth Rs 1.58 crore from a passenger arriving from Muscat. This operation highlights the ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking through Kerala’s airports.
On Friday, April 17, 2026, officers from the Calicut and Kannur regional units of DRI’s Cochin Zonal Unit acted on specific intelligence to intercept a passenger who had just landed from Muscat, Oman. The suspect, a native of Malappuram district in Kerala, was carrying 1,974 grams of crystal methamphetamine hidden inside food packets in his checked baggage. This clever concealment method underscores the sophistication of modern smuggling tactics. The street value of the seized drugs is estimated at Rs 1.58 crore in the illicit market, making it one of the larger hauls at this airport recently. The passenger was immediately arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, which imposes strict penalties for such offenses.
Details about the passenger remain limited, but reports confirm he hails from Malappuram, a district in northern Kerala with historical ties to Gulf migration routes. Muscat, the origin point, serves as a common transit hub for such smuggling operations from the Middle East. Following the interception, DRI officers recovered two packets of the banned substance, a highly potent synthetic drug known as crystal meth or “ice.” The arrest was swift, and the passenger faces judicial proceedings under NDPS provisions, potentially including lengthy imprisonment and heavy fines based on the quantity involved. This case adds to the passenger’s remand status as investigations probe deeper into his connections.
This incident is not isolated; on March 2, 2026, DRI seized 1.931 kg of crystal methamphetamine from another passenger a Palakkad native at the same airport. These back-to-back busts suggest a persistent smuggling route via Muscat targeting Calicut International Airport, which handles significant traffic from the Gulf. Earlier in November 2025, a similar operation netted 974.5 grams hidden in a diaper packet from a Thrissur native. Kerala’s airports have become hotspots for narcotics inflows, with Calicut seeing multiple high-value seizures in recent months. The Cochin Zonal Unit of DRI alone confiscated drugs worth Rs 70.76 crore in Kerala during the last financial year (2025-26), leading to 21 arrests nationwide. These include hydroponic weed, methamphetamine, and cocaine, pointing to diverse smuggling syndicates.
The DRI, under the Ministry of Finance, specializes in intelligence-driven operations against smuggling, including narcotics, gold, and wildlife products. In this case, their proactive intelligence gathering prevented a large quantity of crystal meth from entering Kerala’s streets, where the drug fuels addiction and crime. Further probes aim to dismantle the supply chain, tracing sources in Muscat and identifying local networks. Investigators are focusing on international links, as crystal meth production often occurs in clandestine labs in Southeast Asia or the Middle East before transshipment via Gulf carriers. Past cases reveal patterns of migrants using legitimate travel for illicit purposes, exploiting lax checks on baggage.
Kerala has witnessed a surge in synthetic drug abuse, particularly among youth, making such seizures critical for public health and safety. Crystal methamphetamine, with its high addictiveness and neurotoxic effects, poses severe risks including psychosis, heart failure, and violent behavior. This bust disrupts potential distribution networks that could have spread across Malappuram and beyond. Nationally, DRI’s crackdown reflects heightened vigilance post-2024, with coordinated efforts alongside Customs and Narcotics Control Bureau.
While this victory is commendable, experts note that smugglers adapt quickly, shifting to body concealment or new routes. DRI’s success rate, evidenced by Rs 70+ crore in seizures last year, stems from tech like scanners and tip-offs, but resource gaps persist. As investigations continue, updates on the network’s unraveling will be crucial for measuring long-term impact.
Read more at: https://www.newsmobile.in/nation/dri-cracks-major-drug-smuggling-case-at-calicut-airport-from-muscat/