19kg of ganja found on Bengaluru-bound Tata-Yesvantpur Express

A joint team of Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) intercepted a major shipment of narcotics on board the Bengaluru-bound Tata-Yesvantpur Express, and seized 19 kg of ganja (marijuana) from the train near Arsikere.

A statement from RPF, Mysuru division, described the drug haul as a significant breakthrough as part the ongoing nationwide ‘Operation NARCOS’.

As part of a surprise intensive check targeting the illegal transport of contraband by train in Karnataka, a team of personnel from RPF and GRP came across the narcotics around 1.20 p.m. on February 14 when the weekly train was traversing the stretch between Kadur and Arsikere.

“During a coach-by-coach inspection, officers flagged a suspicious black trolley bag tucked beneath berth no. 68 in the M-1 coach. When officials questioned passengers in the vicinity, no one claimed ownership of the bag, sparking suspicion. Following established safety protocols, the team secured and opened the bag, which contained the ganja (cannabis),” according to the RPF.

The seized contraband weighed 19 kg and 16 gram, with an estimated street value of ₹9,50,800.

The RPF handed over the narcotics to the GRP Arsikere for further disposal. 

Following the seizure, a criminal case has been registered and charges have been filed under Section 20(b)(ii)B of the NDPS Act (1985)

While the owner of the bag managed to evade arrest, authorities confirmed that an investigation is underway to trace the origin of the consignment, and to identify the owner of the bag.

“This seizure highlights our commitment to making the railways a hostile environment for drug traffickers,” a senior official involved in the raid stated.