Ranchi- The Railway Protection Force (RPF) achieved a major breakthrough in its ongoing crackdown on drug trafficking by seizing 61 kilograms of cannabis valued at around ₹30.5 lakh and arresting three alleged traffickers.
The operation was conducted on May 30, 2026, under the RPF’s anti-narcotics campaign, Operation NARCOS. During a routine inspection at Ranchi Railway Station, RPF personnel from the Flying Squad, RPF Post Ranchi, and the Crime Branch noticed three passengers behaving suspiciously in coach B-3 of Train No. 18309 Sambalpur–Jammu Tawi Express. The trio was carrying four trolley bags and three backpacks.
During questioning, the passengers allegedly admitted that the bags contained cannabis. As the train had already left Ranchi, the suspects and their luggage were taken off at Namkum Railway Station, where a detailed search was carried out.
The accused were identified as Ayush Singh (22), Prince Kumar (21), and Ankit Pathak (19), all residents of Buxar district in Bihar. The search led to the recovery of 61 packets of cannabis weighing a total of 61 kilograms, along with three mobile phones.
Under the supervision of Assistant Security Commissioner Pratap Singh Negi, officials tested the seized substance using a field testing kit, which confirmed it to be cannabis. The estimated value of the recovered contraband has been pegged at approximately ₹30.5 lakh.
Following the seizure, the narcotics and other recovered items were confiscated, and the three accused were handed over to the Government Railway Police (GRP), Ranchi, for further legal action.
Officials credited the success of the operation to the coordinated efforts of Inspector Shishupal Kumar, Inspector Lal Bahadur, ASI Yogendra Kumar, ASI Anil Kumar, ASI Abhishek Kumar, and RPF personnel A.J. Ansari, R.K. Singh, Hemant, and Chhote Kumar Singh.