In a significant crackdown on cross-border narcotics trafficking, the Railway Protection Force (RPF), acting on intelligence from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), apprehended two individuals, including a woman, with a massive haul of charas at Kanpur Central railway station on Tuesday. The contraband, smuggled from Nepal and valued at approximately Rs 1 crore in the international market, was intercepted as the accused attempted to exit the station.
Coordinated Operation Leads to Arrest
Acting on specific inputs provided by the NCB unit in Lucknow, the RPF heightened its vigilance across the platforms of Kanpur Central. Security personnel were strategically deployed at exit gates on both the City and Cantonment sides of the busy station. RPF in-charge S N Patidar, along with an NCB team and RPF constables, meticulously monitored passenger movement, supplementing physical surveillance with live feeds from CCTV cameras.
The heightened alert paid off when officials identified a man and a woman behaving suspiciously. The duo was stopped for questioning as they tried to leave through a gate after alighting from a train. Following initial interrogation, they were taken to the RPF post within the station premises for a thorough check.
Massive Drug Haul Recovered
A search of their belongings led to a major discovery. The RPF team recovered 10 kilograms of high-quality charas from a bag in their possession. The narcotic was neatly packed into 20 individual packets, each weighing 500 grams. The estimated street value of the seizure was pegged at a staggering Rs 1 crore, highlighting the scale of the illicit operation.
During subsequent interrogation, the arrested individuals revealed their identities. The woman was identified as Rajmati Devi, a resident of Bettiah in Bihar. Her male accomplice gave his name as Ram Pukar, hailing from Parsa in Nepal. They confessed to having travelled to Kanpur Central aboard the Vaishali Express.
Carriers Booked Under NDPS Act
Investigating officers stated that the arrested pair were acting as carriers for a larger smuggling network. The Narcotics Control Bureau has formally registered a case against both accused under the stringent Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The successful operation underscores the effectiveness of inter-agency coordination in combating drug trafficking, especially along vulnerable railway routes used for cross-border smuggling from Nepal into the Indian heartland.
The seizure at one of North India's busiest railway junctions signals a robust alert mechanism but also points to the ongoing challenges authorities face in curbing the narcotics trade. Further investigations are underway to uncover the broader network and the intended destination of the seized charas.
