Bengaluru Airport Drug Bust: DRI Seizes 4 kg Cocaine Worth Rs. 40 Crore Hidden in Superhero Comics, Arrests Passenger
Bengaluru, July 19, 2025 – In a major drug bust, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized over 4 kg of cocaine worth approximately Rs. 40 crore from a passenger at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), Bengaluru. The contraband was cleverly concealed inside superhero comic magazines, officials revealed.
Details of the Drug Seizure
Acting on specific intelligence, DRI officers from the Bengaluru Zonal Unit intercepted an Indian male passenger who had arrived from Doha in the early hours of July 18, 2025. Upon examining his baggage, officials noticed that two superhero comics/magazines appeared unusually heavy.
A thorough inspection revealed that the suspect had hidden white powder inside the magazine covers. The substance was later tested and confirmed to be cocaine. The total weight of the seized narcotics was 4,006 grams (over 4 kg), with an estimated international market value of Rs. 40 crore.
Arrest and Legal Action
The passenger was immediately arrested under the stringent Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. He was produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody on the same day.
This seizure highlights the DRI’s vigilance in combating drug trafficking through innovative concealment methods. Authorities have intensified surveillance at major airports to curb the smuggling of narcotics into India.
