In a dramatic incident highlighting new tactics employed by drug traffickers, the Ernakulam rural police have arrested a young woman for allegedly collecting contraband thrown from a moving train near Kochi. The arrest sheds light on an emerging modus operandi to bypass heightened security at railway stations.
The Early Morning Bust at Neduvannur
The operation unfolded in the early hours of Sunday at Neduvannur. Alert residents informed the Nedumbassery police after witnessing suspicious packages being thrown from a passing train. Acting swiftly on the tip-off, a police team rushed to the spot and discovered a woman in the act of gathering the discarded parcels.
The suspect was identified as Shalini Ballar Singh, a 24-year-old native of Kandhamal district in Odisha. Upon searching her bag, the police made a significant seizure. They recovered eight kilograms of ganja (cannabis), neatly divided into four separate packets, which had allegedly been tossed from the train.
A New Trafficking Method to Evade Police Checks
Investigating officers revealed that this case points to an innovative and concerning method being adopted by drug peddlers. With increased vigilance and regular checks at railway stations across the state, traffickers are now identifying isolated spots along the railway track in advance.
The new modus operandi involves a person on the train throwing the contraband out at a pre-decided, secluded location. An accomplice waiting nearby then quickly collects the packages and leaves the area, attempting to avoid direct contact and detection at the station premises. The police are now investigating whether this specific method has been used by the same network in previous instances.
The Investigation Team
The probe into this ingenious drug smuggling attempt was led by District Police Chief (Ernakulam Rural) M Hemalatha. The team included key officers such as DSP T R Rajesh, Inspector R Rajesh, Sub-Inspector S S Sreelal, ASI Preetha, and senior civil police officers Ratheesh, Vipin, Manu, and Sajas.
The arrest underscores the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement in curbing drug trafficking and the continuous evolution of criminal tactics. The Ernakulam rural police have registered a case and are conducting further investigations to unravel the entire network and the intended destination of the seized narcotics.
