CHENNAI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday recovered Rs 1.16 crore in Indian currency, US$53,500 and Myanmar Kyat 1.5 lakh during searches at 13 locations in Tamil Nadu and Mizoram in connection with the seizure of 6,016.87 kg of methamphetamine from a Myanmarese boat in the Bay of Bengal in November 2024.NIA teams seized Rs 71 lakh, $53,500 and Myanmar Kyat 1.5 lakh in Chennai, while Rs. 22.38 lakh was recovered from a location in Champhai and Rs 20.73 lakh from Aizawl.The searches were conducted at eight locations in Tamil Nadu and five in Mizoram as part of the investigation into a suspected transnational narcotics trafficking network. Several digital devices were also seized for forensic examination, the NIA said.The case relates to the seizure of the massive methamphetamine consignment from a Myanmarese boat near the Barren Islands in November 2024. A satellite phone and other articles were also recovered from the vessel.The Andaman and Nicobar police initially registered a case and arrested six Myanmar nationals. They were subsequently chargesheeted on March 27, 2025, under relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, and the Foreigners Act, 1946.NIA took over the investigation and re-registered the case in August last year invoking provisions of the NDPS Act, Foreigners Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. The six accused are currently in judicial custody.The latest searches are aimed at identifying others involved in the conspiracy and establishing the links between the seized methamphetamine consignment and wider international drug trafficking syndicates.
