Four Bihar residents were held with cannabis in Agartala railway station early Monday. Acting on a tip-off, the Government Railway Police (GRP), supported by the Railway Protection Force (RPF), arrested the suspects and seized 37.615 kilograms of dry ganja packed in 35 packets and hidden inside four large bags.
This seizure marks one of the largest cannabis busts at Agartala railway station in recent months.
Suspects from Bihar Attempted Smuggling via Train
The arrested individuals—Mithlesh Kumar, Rakesh Sah, Seema Devi, and Arvind Yadav—hail from different districts of Bihar. Further, they were about to board a Guwahati-bound train when officials intercepted them.
According to GRP Officer-in-Charge S. Debnath, the group was behaving suspiciously. “A quick inspection of their luggage confirmed our suspicion. Also, we found cannabis wrapped in black plastic, carefully concealed,” he said.
Cannabis Concealed in Luggage
The ganja was professionally packed to avoid detection, likely for interstate transportation. The estimated street value is believed to run into lakhs of rupees.
The four suspects have been booked under various sections of the NDPS Act, 1985, and were produced before a local magistrate. They have been sent to judicial custody pending further investigation.
Agartala a Growing Hub for Narcotics Movement
This incident again highlights the growing trend of drug trafficking through Tripura. Moreover, with its porous border with Bangladesh and improved rail connectivity, Agartala has become a key point for smugglers.
Cannabis seized in Tripura has shown a rising pattern in recent Tripura police operations, with traffickers frequently using trains to evade road-based enforcement checks.
According to police sources, narcotics are often smuggled from Manipur and Mizoram, with Agartala acting as a transit route to northern states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
Public Alert and Surveillance Increased
In light of this seizure, both GRP and RPF have increased surveillance and random baggage checks at railway stations across the state. Officials are urging passengers to remain vigilant and report any suspicious behavior.
A senior railway officer emphasized, “We urge the public to be our eyes and ears. Any unclaimed luggage or suspicious behavior should be reported immediately to prevent such smuggling attempts.”
More information about the railway safety and drug enforcement measures can be found on the Indian Railways official site.
