Railway Police Dismantle Narcotics Smuggling Network at Secunderabad Station

Hyderabad: A coordinated operation by Government Railway Police and Railway Protection Force personnel has exposed a narcotics trafficking network operating between Odisha and Surat, resulting in the seizure of 17.909 kilograms of ganja valued at Rs. 8.95 lakh from Secunderabad Railway Station.

The joint operation, conducted on May 8, led to the arrest of one individual and the apprehension of a minor. Investigators have registered charges under Sections 8(c) read with 20(b)(ii)(B) of the NDPS Act, with additional provisions under Section 78 of the Juvenile Justice Act applied in the juvenile's case.

The arrested individual, identified as Deepak Swain, 24, works as a labourer and is currently based in Surat, Gujarat. Swain hails from Kodala village in Ganjam district, Odisha. Authorities also took into custody a 16-year-old boy from Odisha who was travelling with the contraband.

The investigation has identified Rajesh Kumar, also from Ganjam district in Odisha, as the principal supplier orchestrating the smuggling operation. Kumar remains at large. According to police findings, Kumar was offering Rs. 7,000 per packet to individuals willing to transport the narcotics from Odisha to Surat.

During a recent visit to their native village, both Swain and the juvenile were reportedly approached by Kumar, who exploited their financial hardships to recruit them for the smuggling operation. On May 7, the two collected ganja packets from the Phulbani forest region, concealing the contraband in two trolley suitcases.

Swain carried one suitcase containing five packets, while the juvenile transported another containing four packets. The pair boarded the Visakha Express from Odisha with the intention of reaching Surat. Upon arriving at Secunderabad station, they settled in the general waiting area as they anticipated a late-night departure for their onward journey.

At approximately 7.20 am on May 8, police personnel conducting routine inspections at the station apprehended both individuals and recovered the ganja packets.

The operation was executed by IRP B. Saieashwar Goud, SIRP T. Madhav, and additional GRP staff, alongside RPF officials Bhavani Shankar Saraswat and B.N. Singh. The operation received oversight from IPS officer Sandeep, who heads the Railway Police division, and DSRP S.N. Jawed.