Smuggling of ganja on trains persists in Tiruchi division

Smugglers have continued to use the rail network to illegally transport ganja if the host of seizures of this contraband made in the limits of the Tiruchi Division over the years are any indication.

In the latest incident, a joint team of the Railway Protection Force (RPF), Government Railway Police (GRP) and the Narcotic Intelligence Bureau CID of the Tamil Nadu Police seized about 36 kg of ganja concealed in various bundles at the Tiruchi railway junction.

The team was conducting checks soon after the arrival of the Howrah – Tiruchi bi-weekly express at the Tiruchi railway junction in the early hours on December 6 when the personnel noticed four unclaimed travel bags underneath three berths in the S-6 coach. 

As none came forward to claim ownership of the bags, the team checked them only to find 16 bundles containing about 36 kilograms of ganja inside. The contraband, valued at Rs. 18 lakh, was immediately seized and brought to the RPF Post at Tiruchi Junction. Subsequently, it was handed over to the Narcotic Intelligence Bureau CID, Tiruchi unit for further legal action. 

This was not an isolated case in Tiruchi Division as similar incidents involving seizure of ganja had been reported this year. Twelve such incidents involving seizure of ganja were reported in the Division from January to December 6 this year, say RPF authorities here. The total quantity of ganja seized during this period was 87.69 kg with the RPF apprehending only two accused in the current year. The total value of the seized ganja was put at ₹35.62 lakh. 

In 2023, 17 incidents were reported in the Division with the RPF seizing 130 kg of ganja. Eight incidents were reported in 2024 with the quantity of ganja seized being over a little over 40 kilograms. Over 15 persons were arrested in the two years.

Notwithstanding vigil mounted by the RPF and the Government Railway Police, smugglers have continued to illegally transport ganja by trains. Most of the seizures were made at Tiruchi railway junction in Tiruchi Division’s limits. 

The inter-state express trains, especially those coming from the eastern and north-eastern destinations are the ones through which ganja was usually being smuggled into Tamil Nadu, say the authorities. The contraband comes from different places in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, they further say.

Smugglers mostly choose to travel in general compartments of trains to illegally transport ganja in their bid to avoid detection. In some instances, they travel by reserved coaches as well, say senior RPF officers. The contraband concealed inside bags are usually kept beneath the seats and if the smugglers even get a hint of checks being done by security personnel on board trains or on the platform they simply abandon the belongings in order to avoid getting caught, the officer said.

The inter-state express trains that pass through the limits of the Tiruchi Division are the ones which come under scrutiny by the RPF teams. RPF authorities say they continued to mount vigil along with their GRP counterparts to check smuggling of ganja through trains.