Four from Odisha arrested in B'luru for carrying ganja; RPF action under 'Operation NARCOS'

Bengaluru: The Railway Protection Force (RPF) recovered 35.25 kg of ganja worth Rs 29.79 lakh by arresting four people, including a woman, in Bengaluru last week, according to the South Western Railway (SWR).

Acting on intelligence inputs, a joint team of the RPF and the Excise Department rounded up the passengers after they arrived at the KSR Bengaluru railway station from Odisha by the Prashanthi Express (train number 18463) on Thursday, the SWR said.

The passengers were moving "suspiciously" towards the third exit, carrying trolley bags and backpacks. The team intercepted them and checked their bags with the help of the dog squad.

The passengers — all aged below 30 and hailing from Odisha — reportedly appeared nervous and gave unsatisfactory replies. Officials then conducted further checks and found plastic-wrapped bundles containing ganja inside the bags.

They were taken into custody and handed over to the Excise Department for legal action, the SWR stated, adding that the raid was conducted as part of 'Operation NARCOS' to curb narcotics smuggling through the railway network.