One of India’s biggest drug hauls: 6,000 kg Meth worth ₹36,000 Cr destroyed in Andamans

In one of the largest drug destruction exercises ever carried out in India, the Andaman and Nicobar Police has incinerated more than 6,000 kilograms of methamphetamine valued at approximately ₹36,000 crore in the international market, officials said on Saturday.

The massive disposal operation was conducted in phases between June 2025 and March 12, 2026 , at the incineration facility of INHS Dhanvantri. Authorities described the exercise as a complex process requiring months of planning, strict legal compliance, and high-level supervision due to the extraordinary quantity involved.

The contraband had entered Indian waters through a transnational trafficking route in the eastern Indian Ocean. It was intercepted on November 23, 2024 , when the Indian Coast Guard stopped a suspicious vessel near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The boat, carrying six Myanmarese nationals , was found transporting crystalline methamphetamine concealed in approximately 1,500 packets .

Investigators believe the shipment originated from Southeast Asia’s notorious “Golden Triangle” narcotics network spanning Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand and was likely destined for international markets, with Indian waters being used as a transit corridor. The seizure underscored the islands’ strategic position along major maritime routes increasingly exploited by transnational drug syndicates.

Following the interception, the case was handed over to the Andaman and Nicobar Police, which registered an FIR under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act , the Foreigners Act , and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita .

Officials said a high-level drug disposal committee oversaw the destruction to ensure transparency and safety. “Despite the unprecedented volume, the entire process was completed efficiently with meticulous coordination and adherence to legal protocols,” a senior officer said.

Methamphetamine, a highly addictive synthetic stimulant banned in India , poses severe health and social risks. Authorities noted that the operation marks a significant blow to international narcotics trafficking networks operating across maritime borders.