Woman Caught Smuggling 62 Crore Cocaine Hidden in Oreo & Chocolate Boxes at Mumbai Airport

Mumbai, July 15: In a major drug bust, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) arrested a woman at Mumbai Airport for attempting to smuggle cocaine worth ₹62.6 crore into India. The woman, an Indian national, had arrived from Doha and was intercepted based on a specific intelligence alert.
 

Cocaine Found Inside Oreo Biscuit and Chocolate Boxes
 

During the search, DRI officials discovered six large boxes of Oreo biscuits and three boxes of chocolates in the woman’s baggage. On further inspection, all nine boxes were found to contain capsules filled with a white powdery substance.

Tests conducted on the capsules using a field drug testing kit confirmed that the substance was cocaine. A total of 300 capsules were recovered, collectively weighing 6,261 grams. In the illegal market, the value of the seized drugs is estimated at over ₹62.6 crore.

The woman has been taken into custody, and a detailed investigation is currently underway, the DRI said in a statement.

 

DRI's Ongoing Crackdown on Drug Trafficking

This is not the first time in recent weeks that DRI Mumbai has caught international drug traffickers using creative methods to smuggle narcotics into India.

On June 22, the DRI arrested a male passenger arriving from Sierra Leone, who was caught with 1,139 grams of cocaine worth over ₹11.39 crore. Upon interrogation, the accused admitted that he had ingested capsules filled with narcotic substances to avoid detection.

Just days before that, on June 20, a Nigerian woman was arrested after a dramatic 50-kilometre surveillance operation. She was suspected of smuggling drugs from Delhi to Mumbai via bus. Her baggage was searched late at night, and narcotics were recovered by the DRI team.

Growing Use of Unusual Hiding Techniques

The latest case highlights the increasing use of innovative and deceptive smuggling methods—such as hiding narcotics in food packaging like chocolate boxes and cookies—to bypass security checks at airports.

Authorities say that such smuggling attempts are part of a larger international drug trafficking network, and efforts are being made to trace all individuals connected to the recent seizures.

DRI officials have reiterated their commitment to tightening border surveillance and cracking down on drug syndicates. Regular monitoring, intelligence gathering, and surprise inspections at airports are now a major part of their anti-narcotics strategy.

Airport Drug Seizures on the Rise
 

With multiple high-value busts in just the past month, Mumbai Airport is becoming a key checkpoint in the fight against international drug smuggling. Officials believe that India is being increasingly targeted as both a destination and transit point for narcotics by global drug cartels.

Passengers arriving from high-risk regions are being closely monitored, and anyone found suspicious is being subjected to extensive checks, both physical and digital.
 

What’s Next?
 

The woman arrested in the Oreo box smuggling case will be produced before a magistrate. The DRI investigation will focus on the supply chain, how the capsules were packed, and whether any accomplices are involved in India or abroad.

The recent spike in drug seizures is a strong message from enforcement agencies that drug smuggling will not be tolerated, no matter how clever the concealment techniques may be.

Key Takeaways:
 

• Woman from Doha caught with ₹62.6 crore worth of cocaine at Mumbai Airport
• 6261 grams of cocaine recovered, hidden in Oreo biscuit and chocolate boxes
• DRI continues crackdown with multiple seizures in June involving ingestion and intercity smuggling
• Authorities warn of growing trends in innovative smuggling tactics