Gorakhpur. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has arrested three alleged drug smugglers, including two women, after intercepting the Amarnath Express at Gorakhpur railway station. The agency recovered 5.88 kg of charas from the accused, with an estimated value of around ₹5.88 crore in the international illicit market. Preliminary investigation indicates that the consignment was allegedly being transported from Sugauli in Bihar to Ludhiana in Punjab by train.
Charas Consignment Intercepted on Amarnath Express
The DRI had received information that three people were travelling on the Amarnath Express with a consignment of narcotics intended for Punjab. Acting on the information, the agency deployed a team at Gorakhpur railway station and began monitoring suspected passengers.
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After the train arrived at the station, the team identified the suspected passengers and conducted a search in the concerned coach.
During the search, two women and a man were detained. A total of 11 packets were recovered from the two women. The packets contained a black substance, which was identified as charas after examination. The seized material weighed 5.88 kg in total.
Packets Allegedly Hidden Around the Body
The investigation also revealed the alleged method used to conceal the narcotics. According to the agency, the two women had not kept the charas in ordinary luggage but had concealed it around their bodies.
Some packets were allegedly tied around their thighs, while others were hidden inside knee caps. The women were also accused of concealing some of the narcotics under their sarees.
The entire consignment was seized following the operation. The agency is now investigating how such a large quantity of charas reached the accused and who allegedly planned its transportation to Punjab.
Consignment Allegedly Bound for Ludhiana
According to the preliminary investigation, the three accused had boarded the Amarnath Express at Sugauli in Bihar. Their alleged destination was Ludhiana in Punjab. This has raised the possibility that rail routes were being used to transport narcotics between states.
The DRI is now trying to establish from whom the accused allegedly obtained the charas and who was supposed to receive the consignment in Ludhiana. The role of possible buyers and other members of the alleged trafficking network is also being examined.
Action Under NDPS Act
Legal action has been initiated against all three accused under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. After completion of the required legal formalities, the three were produced before a court on Friday and were sent to judicial custody.
The agency is continuing to examine the alleged trafficking chain on the basis of questioning and available evidence. The primary focus of the investigation is to identify the source of the narcotics and the intended recipient of the consignment in Punjab.
Mobile Phones and Travel Details Under Scrutiny
The mobile phones of the accused, travel details and other digital evidence may also be examined as part of the investigation. These details could help investigators determine who the accused were in contact with and when the alleged plan to transport the charas from Bihar to Punjab was prepared.
The agency is also likely to investigate whether the three accused had previously transported similar consignments from one state to another. If the investigation or digital evidence establishes the involvement of other individuals, further legal action may follow.
Focus on Possible Interstate Trafficking Network
The seizure of 5.88 kg of charas, estimated to be worth around ₹5.88 crore in the international illicit market, has shifted the DRI’s focus towards the possibility of a wider interstate drug trafficking network.
Investigators are examining whether the seized consignment was an isolated operation or part of a larger supply chain involving multiple people across states. The source of the narcotics, transportation arrangements, possible recipient in Ludhiana and other contacts linked to the alleged network are now being investigated.
The three accused remain in judicial custody. The DRI is continuing its investigation to determine the full chain behind the consignment and identify others who may have been involved in its alleged transportation and distribution.
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About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
