In a major anti-narcotics operation, the Bandra Railway Police have busted a charas smuggling racket and seized contraband worth ₹13.83 crore that was allegedly transported by the Gorakhpur–Mumbai Awadh Express. The seizure was made at Bandra Terminus. Police have launched a detailed investigation to identify the person responsible for transporting the narcotics.
A case has been registered against an unidentified individual under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS Act). Authorities are examining CCTV footage from the railway station to trace the suspect. This is the first major seizure of such a large quantity of charas by railway police in the current year.
According to officials, the Gorakhpur–Mumbai train arrived at Platform No. 4 of Bandra Terminus at around 4:15 pm on Saturday. Railway police were conducting routine checks of suspicious passengers and their luggage when a cleaning staff member noticed an unattended bag in the general compartment and alerted the police.
Acting swiftly, railway police, along with the Railway Protection Force, forensic experts, and a dog squad, reached the spot and seized the bag after conducting a panchnama.
Upon inspection, officials found 31 packets of high-grade charas inside the bag. The total weight of the contraband was 13 kg 834 grams. The estimated value of the seized narcotics in the international market is ₹13,83,40,000.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the charas was transported from Gorakhpur to Mumbai. However, no one turned up to claim the bag at the station. Police suspect that the accused may have abandoned the bag in the general compartment after noticing heavy police presence at the station.
The Bandra Railway Police have registered an FIR against an unknown person under the NDPS Act. The investigation is being carried out under the guidance of Senior Police Inspector Shahaji Nikam, with assistance from railway police and the local crime branch.
Officials suspect the involvement of an inter-state drug trafficking syndicate, and efforts are underway to trace those linked to the racket.