Railway Protection Force seizes ganja worth ₹4.05 crore, liquor worth ₹13.16 lakh in crackdown on smuggling via rail

In a series of successful operations throughout 2024–25, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) of the South Western Railway (SWR) has intensified its efforts to combat criminal activities on trains, resulting in major seizures and arrests.

In a series of successful operations throughout 2024–25, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) of the South Western Railway (SWR) has intensified its efforts to combat criminal activities on trains, resulting in major seizures and arrests.

As part of Operation Satark, a campaign specifically targeting the unlawful transportation of alcohol via the rail network, RPF personnel booked 94 cases and apprehended two suspects. Liquor worth ₹13.16 lakh was confiscated during these crackdowns.

A more critical success emerged from Operation NARCOS, a targeted initiative against drug trafficking. RPF teams filed 66 cases and arrested 25 individuals involved in smuggling narcotics. The operation led to the seizure of 441.30 kg of ganja, with an estimated market value of ₹4.05 crore.

“Drug traffickers tend to misuse long-haul trains to shift narcotics across state lines, thinking they can evade detection due to the speed and anonymity the railway system offers,” said a senior official from the South Western Railway. “To counter this, our surveillance teams — equipped with plainclothes officers and sniffer dogs — have been deployed tactically to keep a close watch at railway stations and inside trains,” he added.

Beyond crime prevention, the RPF has also been active in saving lives under the Jeevan Raksha initiative, rescuing six male passengers who were found in perilous situations across the railway network.

In yet another effort by SWR, the force has helped passengers retrieve 669 lost or stolen items, collectively valued at more than ₹49.47 lakh. The recovered goods included 207 mobile phones, 61 laptops, 44 gold ornaments, 58 cash-related recoveries, and 290 miscellaneous baggage items.

“Our personnel are committed to passenger safety, whether it involves thwarting smuggling operations or ensuring that a misplaced phone or life-threatening incident receives immediate attention. Maintaining a proactive presence across stations has been key to our success,” official said.