DRI seizes Ephedrine smuggling to New Zealand, two arrested in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Hyderabad Zonal Unit, on August 8, 2024 (Thursday), arrested two individuals for attempting to smuggle 3 kg of Ephedrine/Pseudoephedrine, valued at Rs. 60 lakhs in the illicit market value to New Zealand.

Acting on specific intelligence, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officers intercepted the duo who had arrived in Hyderabad to courier a suspicious package.

Upon examination, two vacuum-sealed transparent packets containing a white powdery substance were found. A field test confirmed the substance to be Ephedrine/Pseudoephedrine.

Both individuals have been apprehended under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

Ephedrine and Pseudoephedrine are classified as controlled substances under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. These chemicals serve as precursors for the illicit manufacture of amphetamine and methamphetamine, collectively referred to as Amphetamine-Type Stimulants (ATS).

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Hyderabad Zonal Unit, has initiated a detailed investigation into the matter.