Salem sub-division railway police seize 590 kg of ganja from trains in seven months
Railway police in the Salem sub-division have seized 590 kg of ganja and 166 kg of gutkha from trains between January and August 2026. Authorities have intensified inspections on trains originating from Odisha and Andhra Pradesh to curb the smuggling of contraband.
Why it matters
The report underscores the challenges of drug interdiction in regional transit systems and the shift in smuggling tactics toward rail transport.
The railway police officials of the Salem sub-division seized 590 kilograms of ganja from January 1, 2026 to August 10, 2026 and arrested 16 individuals involved in smuggling ganja on trains.
The State government is taking various steps to prevent the smuggling ganja and tobacco products from nearby states. As the police intensify vehicle checkup in the national highways, state highways and near toll plazas, ganja is being smuggled through trains to avoid police action.
Following this, the Director General of Police (DGP) for Railways, K. Vanniaperumal, instructed the railway police to increase inspections on the railways to prevent the entry of ganja into the State. Based on these instructions, the Salem sub-division railway police, which covers Salem, Dharmapuri, Hosur, Jolarpettai, and Katpadi railway stations, intensified their checks on trains. Fifteen special teams were formed for this purpose..
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