Sun Mar 16 13:33:09 UTC 2025: ## Southern India Steps Up Railway Anti-Drug Efforts Following Rise in Smuggling Attempts
**Kozhikode, March 16, 2025** – The Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) in southern India are intensifying their fight against drug trafficking on long-distance trains. Increased flash inspections and enhanced coordination between five southern states are planned in response to a predicted rise in smuggling attempts via the railway network, following stricter road checks and border surveillance.
The intensified effort will involve more frequent inspections of trains, increased scrutiny of parcel movements, and a greater plainclothes police presence at stations to monitor suspicious individuals. The authorities acknowledge the challenges posed by the lack of advanced baggage screening systems and the use of incorrect addresses by smugglers.
A key focus will be on abandoned bags and parcels, a common tactic used by traffickers. Passengers are urged to report suspicious items via railway helplines. Furthermore, officials are considering a nationwide anti-drug operation, similar to the successful ‘NARCO’ drive in 2022, which resulted in the seizure of ₹7.40 crore worth of narcotics and 165 arrests. The coordinated effort aims to effectively counter the shifting tactics of drug smugglers utilizing the railway system.
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