The Railway Protection Force (RPF) seized about 5 kg of ganja worth about ₹2.5 lakh from the Howrah–Tiruchi Express at Tiruchi Junction railway station in the early hours of Saturday.According to railway officials, the seizure was made following a tip-off received by RPF Inspector Ajay Kumar that narcotics were being transported on the train, which arrived at Tiruchi Junction at around 2.40 a.m.A team comprising RPF personnel and officials from the Crime Intelligence Branch, Narcotics Intelligence Unit and Bomb Detection Squad, searched the train. An unattended black travel bag was found near the toilet of a general compartment at the rear end of the train stationed at Platform No. 8.Upon opening the bag, officials found two packets containing dried ganja. The contraband weighed 5 kg and is estimated to have a market value of ₹2.5 lakh.Railway officials suspect that the smugglers abandoned the bag and fled after noticing the presence of security personnel at the station.The seized contraband was handed over to the Railway Narcotics Intelligence Unit for investigation. Efforts are on to identify and apprehend those involved in the smuggling operation. Published - June 06, 2026 05:49 pm IST