RPF-GRP operation nets four with 10 kg of suspected ganja in Kochi

Four people were arrested at Ernakulam Junction (South) railway station on Friday with 10 kg of suspected ganja, in a joint operation by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the Government Railway Police (GRP).

Two of those held — Buddha Debu Mondal, 22, and Suman Choudary, 22, both from Murshidabad in West Bengal — were allegedly carrying the contraband when they arrived at the station by the Shalimar–Thiruvananthapuram Express. The other two, Akash Babu, 22, and Athul Santhosh, 27, both from Chottanikkara, were apprehended on suspicion of buying the substance.

Preliminary investigation suggests the ganja was brought from Odisha, officials said in a release. Searches at stations and inside trains are to be stepped up in the coming days.

In a separate case, the Nedumbassery police arrested one more accused in connection with the seizure of 22.17 grams of suspected MDMA in July. The person held is Abhinav Raj, 26, of Edakkad in Kozhikode. Two people had already been arrested after the contraband was seized; it was allegedly being trafficked from Bengaluru in a car.

Mr. Raj is an accused in drug cases registered at the Kozhikode Kasaba and Elathur police stations, the Ernakulam rural police said.