Officials of the Elite Anti-Narcotics Group for Law Enforcement (EAGLE) targeted the trains coming to Andhra Pradesh from Odisha to check ganja smuggling. As ganja was being smuggled through trains from Andhra-Odisha Border (AOB) region, police were focussing on transportation to curb the menace.

“Under ‘Operation Vijay’, EAGLE police, in association with the Government Railway Police (GRP), Prohibition of Excise (P&E), Law and Order, and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) conducted raids in railway stations and on running trains in the last two days. They seized ganja from four trains and registered cases,” said EAGLE Head and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ake Ravi Krishna.

Speaking to The Hindu on Tuesday, Mr. Ravi Krishna said that police confiscated 17 kg of ganja from Konark Express at Anakapalli railway station. Similarly, the joint teams seized 15 kg ganja from Rayagada Passenger at Parvathipuram.

Meanwhile, ganja chocolates were seized in separate raids from the Tambaram Express, near Tenali, and Coromandel Express in Vijayawada, Mr. Ravi Krishna said. “Police took the peddlers into custody and produced them in court. The ganja chocolates were being transported to Chennai and other places,” the IGP said.

Explaining the modus operandi of the accused, Mr. Ravi Krishna said that the smugglers were transporting low quantity ganja from tribal habitations in Odisha. “The smuggler would board an unreserved (general) coach, keep the bag containing ganja under a seat, a short distance away. When police seize the bag, they will pretend as if they are unaware,” the EAGLE chief said.

Instructions have been given to check all the passenger and express trains coming from Odisha to check ganja smuggling. ‘Operation Vijay’ will continue in all railway stations in Andhra Pradesh, Mr. Ravi Krishna said.