Maharashtra: Central Railway cops solve mobile theft cases, busts narcotics smuggling racket; property worth over Rs 22 lakh recovered

The Railway Protection Force RPF of Central Railway have solved multiple mobile theft cases and busting a narcotics smuggling racket in separate operations during May 2026 officials saidIn two mobile theft cases RPF personnel arrested seven accused and recovered stolen property worth more than Rs 22 lakh while in a separate antinarcotics operation they seized drugs valued at over Rs 250 lakhBhusaval operation Four held with 37 stolen mobile phonesIn a major breakthrough RPF Bhusaval arrested four accused on May 22 2026 after receiving inputs and photographs from Kannur Police in Kerala regarding a highvalue mobile theft caseActing on the information a special RPF team conducted a search operation aboard Train No 12617 ErnakulamndashHazrat Nizamuddin Express before its arrival at Bhusaval station During the inspection four suspects matching the circulated photographs were intercepted from a general coachOn search officials recovered 37 mobile phones and cash of Rs 25235 with the total seizure valued at approximately Rs 1825 lakhDuring interrogation the accused reportedly confessed that the mobile phones were stolen from a mobile shop in Kannur Kerala The accused and recovered property were handed over to Kannur Police for further investigationManmad station check leads to arrest of three suspectsIn another case on May 5 2026 RPF personnel deployed at Manmad railway station detained three suspicious individuals during routine patrollingUpon verification at the RPF post officials recovered 28 stolen mobile phones valued at around Rs 408 lakh from their possession The accused allegedly admitted that the phones were stolen from the Urs Fair in Kalaburagi KarnatakaFollowing verification with Roza Police Kalaburagi all three accused along with the recovered phones were handed over for further legal actionNagpur 1280 kg ganja seized under Operation NarcosIn a separate antinarcotics operation under ldquoOperation Narcosrdquo RPF Crime Intelligence Branch officials in Nagpur seized 1280 kg of a ganjalike substance valued at approximately Rs 256 lakhOn May 4 2026 during surveillance near Platform No 8 at Nagpur railway station officials spotted a suspicious person carrying a trolley bag and backpack The suspect fled the spot during questioning abandoning his luggageA search conducted with the help of the dog squad ldquoPrincerdquo led to the recovery of 12 packets containing the contraband substance The seized narcotics were handed over to the Government Railway Police GRP Nagpur where a case was registered under the NDPS ActRPF intensifies surveillance across Central RailwayCentral Railway officials said surveillance has been strengthened under Operation Narcos to curb drug trafficking through the railway network They added that coordinated efforts between RPF and GRP have led to successful recoveries and arrestsThe railway administration also appealed to passengers to report suspicious activity or unattended baggage to helpline 139 or the nearest RPFGRP personnelOfficials said the operations reflect the ldquovigilance coordination and dedicationrdquo of RPF personnel in ensuring safer train travel across the Central Railway network