Trains being utilized as well for smuggling contraband items
STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: It has come to light that apart from surface and air transport, smugglers of various contraband items - notably drugs and narcotic substances - are also using the railway network for their nefarious purpose.
According to Northeast Frontier (NF) Railway sources, personnel of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) recovered narcotic substances worth around Rs 2.28 crore from various trains in the month of February alone. The lion's share of narcotic substances, worth around Rs 92.59 lakh, was seized under the Lumding Division of NF Railway during this period. In fact, the Lumding Division accounted for 40.6 per cent of all narcotics seized by the RPF across India.
Six smugglers were arrested in connection with the seizures made by the RPF.
Various contraband items seized in February include 736.5 kg of ganja valued at Rs 73,65,000, 240 gm of brown sugar valued at Rs 13,09,000, 38.88 gm of heroin valued at Rs 5,83,000, 5,280 kg of areca nut valued at Rs 78,48,000 and 189 bottles of liquor valued at Rs 49,336. The total value of these items is estimated to be Rs. 92.59 lakh.
In so far as the Guwahati Railway Station is concerned, in the period between January and December, 2021 a total of 58.5 kg of ganja valued at Rs 5,85,000 was seized. Moreover, 2,22,000 sticks of contraband cigarettes valued at Rs 22,20,000; 1,400 kg of contraband cardamom valued at Rs 1,80,000; 86,400 kg of contraband areca nut valued at Rs 30,24,000; foreign garments valued at Rs 6,00,000; and 284 bottles foreign liquor valued at Rs 75,000 were seized during this period.
So far this year, ganja valued at Rs 14,90,000; foreign liquor valued at Rs 72,288; and areca nut valued at Rs 43,48,000 have been seized at the Guwahati Railway Station. This apart, Indian currency worth Rs 1,48,30,600 was also recovered at the railway station.
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