Sambalpur: Over 10 Quintals Marijuana Seized in 8 Months; Trains Become New Route for Illegal Smuggling
Sambalpur: The illegal drug trade is on the rise. Previously, smugglers primarily used road routes for their operations. However, as road patrols tightened, smugglers shifted their focus and are now using trains for large-scale smuggling operations. To combat this, government railway police and security forces have increased checks at various locations, resulting in numerous marijuana seizures and arrests.
Increased Crackdown in Sambalpur Division
According to information from the Sambalpur division’s railway security force, officers have conducted extensive raids over the last eight months. During this time, they reported 68 marijuana-related incidents, arrested 103 people, and seized a total of 1,022.725 kg of marijuana.
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Monthly Statistics
In January, authorities registered one case, arresting three people with 14.3 kg of marijuana. February saw 10 cases and 15 arrests, leading to 143 kg of marijuana seizures. In March, they registered 11 cases, arrested 16 people, and seized 171 kg. Similarly, in April, 10 cases were registered, 16 people were arrested, and 171 kg was seized. In May, authorities seized 131 kg and arrested 14 people in 10 cases. By June, 197 kg was seized in 13 cases with 18 arrests. In July, four cases led to six arrests and the seizure of 97 kg, while August saw nine cases, 15 arrests, and the seizure of 161.45 kg.
The division covers areas including Sambalpur, Bargarh, Balangir, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Rayagada, parts of Anugul, Jharsuguda, and even parts of Chhattisgarh. Under the direction of Divisional Security Commissioner VJ Kripakar and Assistant Security Commissioner CK Nayak, division teams are keeping constant surveillance to curb these activities in trains.
Railway Act Enforcement and Other Security Actions
According to the Railway Act report, the Sambalpur division has registered 4,156 cases over the last eight months, arresting 4,050 people. Among them, 2,793 have been convicted, with fines totaling Rs 6,51,550. Furthermore, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) rescued 60 people from incidents such as accidental falls or separation from family members during train travel. The rescued people include 19 girls, 21 boys, ten women, and ten men.
The division’s ongoing efforts show that authorities are committed to stopping illegal activities on trains, ensuring passenger safety, and holding offenders accountable.
