Bengaluru Railway Division Drives Massive Drug Bust Surge in 2025
Drug traffickers are returning to railway routes in a big way. South Western Railway (SWR) has reported a staggering increase in ganja seizures for the year 2025. The total haul reached 919 kilograms, marking a massive 269% jump from the previous year. This represents the largest seizure and the highest number of arrests recorded by the zone in three years.
The Bengaluru division alone contributed nearly two-thirds of all cases. Data from SWR, which covers most of Karnataka, shows a significant rise in ganja confiscations from trains and railway station premises throughout 2025.
Record Numbers and Arrests
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) seized the substance, valued at over Rs 6.7 crore, from 125 separate cases registered last year. These operations led to 57 arrests, the highest tally in at least three years. Officials confirmed that the 2025 total surpassed the previous year's figures well before June.
This success is largely attributed to intensified inspections and targeted enforcement efforts. Special teams were deployed to check suspicious luggage and parcels, with a particular focus on trains arriving from eastern routes.
Coordinated Crackdown Strategy
Officials explained that regular intelligence gathering and sharing among the RPF, excise department, and Government Railway Police (GRP) played a crucial role. The deployment of personnel and dog squads at strategic locations within key railway stations and on targeted trains also helped the crackdown.
SWR officials emphasized that data analysis contributed significantly to increased busts. This analysis focused on identifying trends, patterns, vulnerable sections, and specific trains. While the zone has three divisions—Mysuru, Bengaluru, and Hubballi—67% of all cases occurred within the Bengaluru division alone.
Of the zone's total, Bengaluru division recorded 84 out of 125 cases and 49 out of 57 arrests. Most cases were concentrated within city railway stations, including KSR Bengaluru, SMVT, Yeshwantpur, and Yelahanka.
Improved Vigilance and Training
"The numbers last year in all aspects are high, not just because smuggling activity rose; it is mostly because of improved vigilance and awareness among us," stated a senior RPF inspector from the Bengaluru division.
The inspector added, "Our teams received intense training from the Narcotics Control Bureau, including how to identify specific narcotic substances through smell and touch. We deployed more female personnel on specific trains, and officers detected many cases while working in plain clothes."
Security Concerns at Stations
The spike in seizures has renewed concerns about security mechanisms at city railway stations. As of January 2026, only five X-ray baggage scanners were operational in city stations. SWR plans to add three more scanners in the coming months.
Despite these measures, the lack of controlled entry and exit points remains a significant problem. During a recent reality check at SMVT railway station, several passengers were observed entering through exit gates, completely bypassing baggage scanning. This issue was also noted at KSR Bengaluru and Krishnarajapuram stations.
The inspector pointed out that seizures of other psychotropic substances were very negligible during the crackdown, indicating a specific focus on ganja trafficking.
Comparative Data Highlights Growth
The following table illustrates the dramatic increase in cases and seizures over the past three years:
- 2023: Total 57 cases, 727 kg seized, 62 arrests
- 2024: Total 31 cases, 249.6 kg seized, 18 arrests
- 2025: Total 125 cases, 919.3 kg seized, 57 arrests
The Bengaluru division consistently recorded the highest numbers, with 2025 showing particularly dramatic growth in both quantity seized and arrests made.
