NDPS court convicts foreign national in ₹25 lakh drug trafficking case; co-accused still absconding.

Mumbai, Wednesday, August 6, 2025:
A special NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act) court in Mumbai has sentenced a 30-year-old South African national to 15 years of rigorous imprisonment for smuggling 4kg of heroin into the country. The contraband, estimated to be worth around ₹25 lakh, was intercepted by officials from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in February 2023.

The convict, whose name was withheld in the ruling, arrived in Mumbai from Johannesburg via Doha. During the court proceedings, the man pleaded not guilty, claiming he was unaware of the heroin in his possession. However, the judge rejected his defense and highlighted the severity of the offense, noting that drug trafficking has devastating social consequences.

The court observed that the heroin was hidden inside false compartments of his travel bag. Investigators also noted inconsistencies in the accused’s travel documents and interrogated him upon arrival. His co-accused, a Tanzanian woman, managed to escape and remains absconding.

The prosecution presented evidence, including seizure memos, DRI testimonies, and chemical analysis confirming the substance as high-purity heroin. The judge further noted that the quantity recovered, 3.98kg, qualifies as a commercial quantity under the NDPS Act, warranting a minimum 10-year sentence, extendable to 20 years.

The convict was also fined ₹1.5 lakh. Failure to pay the fine would result in an additional six months of imprisonment.

During trial, the man maintained that he was framed and had come to India for business purposes. However, the court dismissed these claims, citing lack of evidence.

This verdict sends a strong message against international drug trafficking networks operating in India. Authorities continue to pursue leads to track down the absconding co-accused and others involved in the syndicate.

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