RPF seized ganja and arrested murshidabad native in Aluva

Kochi: Railway protection force seized 30kg ganja worth Rs 15 lakh and arrested a Murshidabad native in Aluva on Tuesday.Biswajit Mandal, 32, was apprehended by RPF crime intelligence branch near the overbridge on Platform 1. The arrest was made during a joint lightning inspection conducted by RPF crime intelligence Thiruvananthapuram, RPF Aluva and Ernakulam narcotics bureau. The cannabis, procured from Murshidabad, was found concealed in three traveller bags. He was caught while waiting on the platform for someone expected to receive the cannabis. It is suspected that the cannabis was intended for distribution in Ernakulam and surrounding districts. Investigations are under way to determine if the accused has any previous cases and to identify the person who was supposed to receive the cannabis on the platform. The accused has been working as a labourer at a pineapple plantation in Vazhakulam, Muvattupuzha for the past two years.Recently, another person from West Bengal was caught at Ernakulam South railway station with 35kg of cannabis. Under the special instructions of RPF Thiruvananthapuram divisional security commissioner Muhammad Hanif, officials intensified inspection in connection with the upcoming legislative assembly elections. The ongoing special inspections have led to the seizure of over 210kg of cannabis and the arrest of 13 individuals in Thiruvananthapuram division.