The lax screening measures on the part of Railways for parcel service orders from private parties have opened the doors for illegal carriers of various banned products, especially pan masala and tranquiliser drugs. No effective mechanism is adopted to check the contents of parcels and details of the addressee. The goods are booked and transported under fake addresses and agents camp at certain railway stations to pick it up. On Wednesday last, the Excise Department seized a huge cache of banned pan masala products. But, no one was arrested.
In Kozhikode district, major railway stations, including Koyilandy and Vadakara, have seen no fewer than 10 such cases mainly related to the illegal transport of banned pan masala products in huge bundles recently. Instances of transporting ganja, liquor and various consumer goods by evading tax too have been traced from these spots by the Railway Police and the Excise wing.
Officials attached to the Railway Protection Force said there have been instances where unsuspecting passengers have been held by the enforcement on finding such goods in their compartment.
“Those responsible for transporting such ‘abandoned’ goods in ordinary compartments normally clear the spot during police checking,” they said.
With the closure of bars and reduction in the number of Beverages Corporation outlets, transport of liquor from various other States and Mahe by train has witnessed an increase. Though parcel service is rarely used to smuggle liquor, the carriers mostly make use of the ordinary compartments to keep their packets in an abandoned state till it reaches the original destination. Meantime, officials attached to the Railway say the issue would be settled completely with the ongoing process of installing baggage screeners.
