Coimbatore, Jan 7 (NationPress) In spite of increased monitoring at the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border, the illicit trade and distribution of banned Kerala lottery tickets persist in Coimbatore district, prompting serious alarm among law enforcement agencies.

Police statistics indicate that in 2025, Coimbatore district authorities confiscated 37,406 banned lottery tickets valued at approximately Rs 14.87 lakh. That year saw 691 cases filed under the Tamil Nadu Lottery Regulation Act.

As part of their enforcement initiatives, Coimbatore rural police apprehended 723 individuals engaged in the illegal sale of Kerala lottery tickets, seizing Rs 6.04 lakh in cash. This trend marks a significant increase compared to the previous year. In 2024, the police seized 62,791 banned lottery tickets and recovered an astonishing Rs 2.25 crore in cash, highlighting the extensive illegal network operating across the border.

A major operation occurred on December 24, 2024, when Karumathampatti police raided the home of Nagaraj, aged 42, in Balaji Nagar, leading to the recovery of 1,900 banned Kerala lottery tickets and Rs 2 crore in cash. Notably, over Rs 2 lakh of the seized cash was in Rs 2,000 notes. Nagaraj, arrested post-raid, was employed as a cashier in a lottery shop in Walayar, Kerala, and was allegedly distributing tickets across Coimbatore and Tirupur districts.

Law enforcement has categorized those involved in this illegal lottery trade into four groups: retailers, agents, dealers, and kingpins, with enforcement efforts mainly focusing on agents and dealers managing large quantities. However, officials have emphasized that retailers are also not exempt from scrutiny.

Coimbatore’s closeness to the Kerala border has facilitated the smuggling of lottery tickets. Reports suggest that some individuals travel to Kerala specifically to obtain tickets for illegal resale in Tamil Nadu. To combat this, district police conducted special raids on December 8 and December 31, 2025, across all six subdivisions.

These operations resulted in the confiscation of 2,663 lottery tickets, Rs 26,000 in cash, and 11 mobile phones, leading to 60 cases filed and 64 arrests.

Senior police officials have noted that illegal lottery sales are particularly prevalent in border areas like Anaikatti and Meenatchipuram, as well as rural regions such as Perur, Peryianaickenpalayam, and Valparai. There have been cases where buyers, lured by promised winnings between Rs 25,000 and Rs 50,000, have been defrauded.

Many victims hesitate to approach the police due to fears of legal repercussions, as both the sale and purchase of lottery tickets are illegal in Tamil Nadu. Authorities have indicated that more targeted operations are being prepared to dismantle the illegal lottery network in and around Coimbatore.