Bhubaneswar: The Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha Crime Branch carried out raids at Bhubaneswar Railway Station on Wednesday following information about illegal trafficking through parcel consignments.
As per sources, a team of the STF, along with Railway Police Force (RPF) officials and sniffer dog squads, were deployed in parcel-handling zones of the railway station during the search operation.
The focus of the whole operation was aimed to detect any possible presence of narcotic substances, liquor ingredients and other hidden contraband, including explosives. The parcel channels were under scanner.
Based on intelligence inputs about intoxicant substances being trafficked illegally, the STF sleuths examined the railway parcel network and channels. The STF suspects that parcels are being used to transport supplies for spurious liquor manufacturing, narcotic substances and materials disguised as everyday goods.
This apart, possible movement of illegal wildlife derivatives, including ivory tusks and pangolin scales, are being examined. Such items are often concealed under false commercial labels in bulk freight.
During the operation, STF teams scanned stacked parcels one by one, while trained K9 units examined luggage bays, parcel crates and sealed cargo bags awaiting dispatch.
The crackdown follows a major seizure at the same railway station last month, when the Government Railway Police (GRP) arrested an individual from Bihar’s Nalanda district.
