Heroin worth ₹41.8 lakh found in inverter at Aluva railway station; two held

The Railway Protection Force (RPF) seized 204 grams of heroin, valued at an estimated ₹41.8 lakh, at Aluva railway station on Saturday. Two men from Assam were detained in connection with the seizure during a joint anti-narcotics operation.

The accused have been identified as Nazir Uddin (33) and Kausar Ahmed Majumdar (32). They were intercepted on Platform No. 1 after arriving on the Dibrugarh–Kanyakumari Express (Train No. 22504). Acting on a tip-off, RPF personnel from the Crime Intelligence Branch (CIB), Thiruvananthapuram, and the Aluva unit conducted a thorough inspection of their belongings.

During the check, officials noticed that a Microtek inverter carried by the men was unusually light. On opening the equipment, they found a crystal-like substance concealed inside. A preliminary test confirmed it to be heroin. The seizure was made under 'Operation Narcos', a nationwide anti-drug drive coordinated by the RPF.

The operation was conducted under the directions of Senior Divisional Security Commissioner Mohammed Hanifa. The accused and the seized drug were handed over to the Government Railway Police (GRP), Ernakulam South, for further investigation. A case will be registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

Heroin is a highly addictive opioid and is prohibited under the NDPS Act. The estimated street value of the contraband is based on market rates assessed by the investigating agencies. The RPF has been intensifying its efforts to curb the smuggling of narcotics through railway networks as part of Operation Narcos, which was launched to identify and dismantle drug trafficking routes.

Officials said the duo had travelled a long distance, covering multiple states, which highlights the cross-state nature of drug trafficking. Further interrogation is expected to reveal the source of the drugs and the intended destination. The GRP will seek custody of the accused to ascertain the network involved.

The successful seizure demonstrates the effectiveness of coordinated surveillance and tip-off-based operations at major transit points. The RPF has urged passengers to report any suspicious activity or unattended items to railway authorities.