Howrah station ganja bust: RPF seizes 22.64 kg, one arrested
Synopsis
RPF sniffer dog MARCO cracked a 22.64 kg ganja haul at Howrah station on 30 August — the second major Eastern Railway drug bust in quick succession after a 42 kg seizure on the Agartala-Anand Vihar Rajdhani. The arrested courier, a 22-year-old Delhi resident originally from Cooch Behar, may be a node in a larger interstate network now being mapped with Delhi Police.
Key Takeaways
RPF CIB, Howrah seized 22.64 kg of ganja at Howrah railway station on 30 August .
Sniffer dog MARCO flagged a sky-blue trolley bag containing 11 tape-wrapped packets of contraband.
Arrested: Rabiyal (22) , originally from Cooch Behar, West Bengal , residing in North-West Delhi .
Case registered under the NDPS Act, 1985 by GRP Howrah ; interrogation ongoing.
Follows a separate seizure of 42 kg ganja from the Agartala-Anand Vihar Tejas Rajdhani Express at Malda Town .
Eastern Railway has directed heightened surveillance on trains from drug-producing and border states.
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) on Sunday, 30 August arrested a man carrying 22.64 kg of ganja at Howrah railway station in Kolkata, following a targeted intelligence-based operation by the RPF Crime Intelligence Branch. The seizure is part of Eastern Railway's sustained crackdown on narcotics trafficking under the Centre's Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan.
How the Operation Unfolded
Acting on specific source intelligence about narcotic movement through the station, the RPF Crime Intelligence Branch (CIB), Howrah, launched an intensive preventive checking operation in coordination with local RPF officers. The break came when RPF sniffer dog MARCO gave a positive indication toward a sky-blue trolley bag carried by a male passenger heading toward Platform 8.
The passenger was detained on the spot and identified as Rabiyal (22), originally from Cooch Behar, West Bengal, and currently residing in North-West Delhi. A search of the bag, conducted before senior officials and independent witnesses, uncovered 11 tape-wrapped packets totalling 22.64 kg of the contraband. His mobile phone and personal belongings were also seized.
Arrest and Legal Action
Rabiyal failed to produce any valid licence, permit, or legal documentation authorising possession or transport of the substance. He was formally arrested by the Government Railway Police (GRP), Howrah, under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
Investigators are now interrogating him to establish the supply chain and intended destination of the drugs. 'The man arrested from Howrah station is being interrogated to find out where he got the ganja and what he planned to do with it. It is possible that he is part of a larger network. We will also seek help from the Delhi Police and other agencies to try and track down others involved in the racket,' an official said.
Broader Surveillance Drive
Railway officials across the country have been directed to maintain heightened vigil on trains originating from drug-producing states, including Tripura and Odisha. Trains from northeastern states sharing international borders are also under active surveillance.
This comes shortly after RPF and GRP personnel seized 42 kg of ganja from a coach of the Agartala-Anand Vihar Tejas Rajdhani Express at Malda Town station, arresting three persons who were reportedly transporting the drugs to Bihar. The Howrah bust is the latest in a pattern of railway-route narcotics interceptions across Eastern Railway's jurisdiction.
Senior Officials Respond
Eastern Railway General Manager Geetika Pandey lauded the operation and urged officials to remain alert at all times within railway premises and on trains. Amiya Nandan Sinha, Inspector General and Principal Chief Security Commissioner of Eastern Railway, reviewed the development and appreciated the anti-trafficking effort.
ER Chief Public Relations Officer Shibram Majhi said: 'Eastern Railway remains committed to maintaining zero tolerance towards illegal activities across all station premises and ensuring secure transit for passengers.'
With interrogation ongoing and Delhi Police likely to be looped in, investigators are expected to map whether the arrested individual is a courier for a wider interstate narcotics network.
Point of View
But the real test is whether interrogation of the Howrah courier produces actionable intelligence on the supply chain. Railway corridors are structurally difficult to police end-to-end, and courier-level arrests, while necessary, rarely dismantle the networks above them without coordinated inter-agency follow-through.
NationPress
30 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was seized at Howrah railway station on 30 August?
RPF officers seized 22.64 kg of ganja packed in 11 tape-wrapped packets from a sky-blue trolley bag at Howrah railway station on 30 August. The contraband was flagged by RPF sniffer dog MARCO during a targeted checking operation.
Who was arrested in the Howrah station ganja bust?
The arrested individual is Rabiyal, a 22-year-old man originally from Cooch Behar in West Bengal who was residing in North-West Delhi. He was arrested by the Government Railway Police, Howrah, under the NDPS Act, 1985.
What is the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan and how does it relate to this arrest?
Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan is a government-wide initiative to combat drug trafficking and abuse across India. Eastern Railway has been conducting sustained anti-narcotics operations at stations and on trains as part of this drive, of which the Howrah bust is the latest action.
Is this the only recent drug seizure on Eastern Railway?
No. Shortly before this arrest, RPF and GRP personnel seized 42 kg of ganja from a coach of the Agartala-Anand Vihar Tejas Rajdhani Express at Malda Town station, arresting three people who were reportedly transporting the drugs to Bihar.
What happens next in the Howrah ganja case?
Rabiyal is currently under interrogation to determine the source of the ganja and its intended destination. Investigators have said he may be part of a larger network, and Eastern Railway officials plan to seek assistance from Delhi Police and other agencies to trace others involved.
