Interstate Drug Courier Intercepted at Hyderabad Station with 16.92 kg of Marijuana

Railway Security Forces Disrupt Smuggling Route

A joint enforcement operation between the Government Railway Police (GRP) and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) resulted in the arrest of a smuggling suspect at the Hyderabad railway station on Tuesday morning. Officers intercepted 20-year-old Akash Singh, a resident of Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, near the entrance to platform number 4. During the search, security personnel found 14 packets containing 16.92 kg of marijuana hidden inside two bags. The market value of the prohibited substance is estimated at ₹8.46 lakh.

Logistics and the Visakhapatnam-Delhi Connection

Initial police inquiries reveal an organized smuggling attempt spanning several states. Singh reportedly confessed to investigators that he was recruited by an individual named Jafar to transport the narcotics from Visakhapatnam to New Delhi. The agreed payment for the delivery was ₹15,000. Singh travelled to Visakhapatnam to collect the cargo before boarding the Godavari Express. Investigators confirmed that Singh was not acting alone during the transit; he arrived at the station accompanied by a second suspect.

Suspects at Large and Legal Action

While Singh was detained, his associate, identified as Manish, evaded capture during the initial police check. Authorities have registered a case under Sections 8(c) and 20(b)(ii)(B) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. In addition to the contraband, police confiscated a mobile phone belonging to the accused for forensic review. Efforts to locate three other individuals linked to the smuggling operation—identified as Jafar, Miya, and Manish—are currently active as the investigation widens.

Source: The Hindu — National