CHENNAI: The Railway Protection Force (RPF) arrested 1,489 drug traffickers and seized narcotics worth over ₹227.5 crore across India in 2024, with Tamil Nadu featuring prominently among key trafficking destinations. Investigations by the RPF and the Greater Chennai Police (GCP) have uncovered evolving tactics used by smugglers to avoid detection on the railway network.
One significant trend identified is traffickers travelling in unreserved compartments—primarily blending in with migrant workers from states like Odisha and West Bengal—to avoid creating any digital trail through ticket bookings. “By avoiding reserved tickets, they stay off the radar,” said an RPF officer.
In response, the RPF ramped up surveillance and inspections in unreserved coaches, particularly focusing on passengers carrying oversized or suspicious luggage. However, traffickers have adapted once again.
According to officials from GCP’s Anti-Narcotics Intelligence Unit, many smugglers have now begun placing drug-filled bags inside First AC and Second AC compartments—areas where routine baggage checks are infrequent.
“They don’t travel with the contraband. Instead, they leave the bags in AC coaches and later board the train a few stops before Chennai. Just before arriving in the city, they retrieve the bags and exit unnoticed,” a senior officer explained.
Authorities say this evolving modus operandi underscores the need for enhanced vigilance even in premium compartments, which have historically seen minimal scrutiny.
Railway and police forces are now coordinating to expand surprise checks and surveillance across all coach types, including AC coaches, to curb these increasingly sophisticated smuggling methods.
