18-07-2025
Narcotics worth Rs 36 cr seized from Nigerian woman at Panvel railway station
In a major drug bust, narcotics worth over Rs 36 crore were seized from a Nigerian woman at the Panvel Railway station Friday.
The drugs were seized in a joint operation by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) Panvel, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Bengaluru, and the Crime Intelligence Branch (CIB) Kurla, Mumbai.
The crackdown took place after NCB tipped off authorities about a possible smuggling attempt on the Hazrat Nizamuddin-Ernakulam Mangala Express train which was scheduled to arrive at Panvel Railway Station on Friday. Responding to the information, a team was quickly formed.
As the train reached platform number 7, the team found the Nigerian woman, who identified herself as Etumudon Doris and was travelling with an infant whom she claimed was her child.
Upon questioning, the officials said, the woman confessed to being in possession of the narcotics.
The team took her to the RPF post, where they found two rectangular black packages labeled 'VINTAGE' in her multicoloured travel bag.
When tested, the substance inside both packages was confirmed to be cocaine, together weighing 2.002 kg. They also seized methamphetamine, weighing 1.488 kg from her.
Murari Lal, Jr. Intelligence Officer, NCB Bengaluru, officially took custody of the seized narcotics. The woman has been booked in connection with the seizure and further probe is underway.
(The author, Naresh S, is an intern with The Indian Express)
