PATNA, Aug. 3 -- Officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) intercepted a Nigerian national at Patliputra railway station on Saturday and seized approximately 2.949 kilograms of methaqualone, a banned synthetic drug commonly known as Quaaludes or Mandrax, a press release of the DRI stated on Sunday. Acting on specific intelligence about a female foreign national allegedly carrying narcotics while travelling from Guwahati to New Delhi, DRI teams identified and intercepted the passenger in the H1 coach of the Northeast Express (Train No. 12505) at Patliputra railway station on August 1. A thorough examination of her black-coloured trolley bag led to the recovery of two polythene packets containing a white powdery substance carefully concealed inside the luggage. Field testing confirmed the substance as methaqualone. The total quantity seized stands at 2,949 grams. The accused, a Nigerian woman, was arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. She was produced before the special NDPS court in Patna, which remanded her to 14 days of judicial custody. Authorities said further investigation is underway to identify other members of the drug syndicate believed to be involved. Methaqualone is a schedule-I controlled substance under Indian law. Once widely prescribed as a sedative-hypnotic in the mid-20th century, it was banned in many countries, including India, due to high abuse potential, dependence risk, and association with recreational drug use and organised trafficking networks. Large consignments of the drug are often linked to international smuggling routes. The seizure forms part of DRI's intensified efforts against narcotics trafficking in Bihar. Since January 2026, the agency has seized a range of drugs across six cases in the state, including 241 kg of ganja, 31.1 kg of charas, 8.144 kg of hydroponic weed and 6.2kg of methaqualone (in addition to the latest haul), with an estimated value of approximately Rs.36 crore. Ten persons have been arrested in connection with these cases under the NDPS Act....