Katihar: Railway authorities in Bihar recovered a large consignment of marijuana weighing 162 kilograms from the Vande Bharat Express, prompting panic among passengers at Katihar station. The train, travelling from New Jalpaiguri to Patna, was stopped after a suspicious bag was discovered in an executive class coach.
The abandoned bag, found in the luggage carrier of the coach, triggered an immediate response from the Katihar Railway Police. “We received a tip-off which led to the recovery of this large quantity of marijuana,” said Railway DSP A.K. Akela. “This seizure indicates the scale at which traffickers attempt to move drugs between states.”
Authorities said the operation formed part of heightened vigilance ahead of Bihar’s upcoming assembly elections. Railway police along the Bengal border have been intensifying checks on trains and at stations to prevent drug trafficking and other illegal activities.
DSP Akela added that the increased policing since the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct played a crucial role in foiling this smuggling attempt. Investigations are ongoing to determine the origin of the drugs and their intended recipients in Patna.
A case has been filed under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act against unknown individuals. Railway police are reviewing CCTV footage and other evidence in an effort to identify and apprehend those responsible. Officials described the seizure as a major blow to drug trafficking networks operating in the region.
