Noticing a suspicious increase in the number of unaddressed consignments on trains, Excise Department squads are planning to Intensify their inspection on long-distance trains with the support of the Government Railway Police (GRP) and the Railway Protection Force (RPF).
The drive was launched in the wake of the detection of large quantities of banned tobacco products, liquor, and tranquilisers in such anonymous consignments.
The inspection will be part of the ongoing pre-Onam special drive against smuggling of IMFL and drugs. Officials said such joint inspections were already in progress in various parts of the district to track suspicious movement of illicit liquor and IMFL smuggling attempts by road and sea. An Excise inspector, who is part of the checking team, said the practice of shipping unaddressed consignments was one among the tactics of wholesale drug dealers. There may be someone who is associated with the trade in the train, but they may not be seen anywhere close to the consignment, to evade flash checking by the squads, he added.
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Many a time, illegal consignments remain unnoticed among other luggages. Such consignments come to the notice of the authorities mainly when passengers express doubts and inform the RPF. In the absence of checking, they reach anonymous receivers at different stations.
An RPF officer said the squads had seized several such illegal consignments from long-distance trains. Banned pan masala products are mainly recovered from such consignments. Though migrant labourers are suspected of involvement in such shipping, very few persons linked to the illegal network have been arrested so far, he said.
Excise officials said the inspection was planned with the support of RPF and GRP, and it was part of attempts to stop the flow of smuggled drugs and liquor meant to spice up Onam celebrations. It will now be included in the ongoing Operation Bhai, and migrant labourers will be specially monitored, they added.
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