Railway police in Bangladesh have recovered a substantial quantity of cannabis following an unscheduled search operation on an intercity train at Brahmanbaria Railway Station, marking another seizure in ongoing efforts to curb narcotics trafficking through the rail network.
According to officials, approximately 10 kilograms of cannabis were recovered from the toilet of an intercity service after it was deliberately halted for inspection in the early hours of Thursday (14 May). The train, the Upaban Express, had departed from Sylhet and was en route to Dhaka when the operation was conducted.
The Officer-in-Charge of Akhaura Railway Police Station, SM Shafiqul Islam, stated that the operation was initiated after a sudden directive was received from Sylhet Railway Police Superintendent Jannat Afroze. Acting on the instruction, law enforcement authorities stopped the train at Brahmanbaria Railway Station, despite the absence of any scheduled stop there for the service.
Following the halt, Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel conducted a thorough search of the train, focusing on multiple compartments. The contraband was eventually discovered inside the toilet of the “C” coach, concealed without any identifiable owner or accompanying passenger claim. Officials confirmed that no individual has yet been directly linked to the recovered narcotics.
Authorities have indicated that legal proceedings are underway, and a narcotics case is being prepared in connection with the seizure. Investigators are expected to examine passenger records, surveillance data where available, and possible intelligence inputs that led to the targeted inspection.
Railway police have increasingly intensified monitoring efforts on long-distance intercity trains, which are often considered vulnerable routes for the transportation of illegal drugs due to high passenger turnover and multiple boarding points along the way. The latest seizure adds to a series of similar recoveries reported in recent months across different railway corridors.
Incident Summary
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Train Name | Upaban Express |
| Route | Sylhet to Dhaka |
| Location of Search | Brahmanbaria Railway Station |
| Time of Operation | Early hours, Thursday (14 May) |
| Quantity Seized | 10 kilograms of cannabis |
| Place of Recovery | Toilet of “C” coach |
| Authority Involved | Government Railway Police (GRP), Akhaura Railway Police |
| Trigger for Operation | Directive from Sylhet Railway Police Superintendent |
| Current Status | Case preparation underway; investigation ongoing |
Officials have reiterated that surveillance and intelligence-led operations on railway routes will continue to be strengthened in order to disrupt narcotics trafficking networks operating across intercity transport systems.