A joint team of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) seized 17.749 kg of ganja from the Tejas Rajdhani Express at Gaya Junction overnight on 16-17 September 2026.[1][2]
The operation was carried out on the night of 16 September under Operation Narcos, the drive against narcotics smuggling on railway premises, after a tip-off that a passenger carrying ganja would arrive at Gaya station.[1][2] A team led by RPF Inspector Banarasi Yadav and rail police station chief Shivkumar kept watch at the station.[1][2]
When train number 22811 Up Tejas Rajdhani Express reached platform number 1 at about 10:20pm, personnel stopped a passenger seated at berth 21 in coach 9 and searched his satchel, handbag and trolley bag.[1][2] The search recovered 17 packets of ganja weighing 17.749 kg including the packing tape.[1][2]
The passenger was identified as Manoj Kumar Barnwal, a resident of Kaimashikoh in Patna district.[1][2] A mobile phone, identity card and the travel ticket were also recovered from him.[1] He was arrested at about 12:50am and handed over with the seized ganja to the Gaya GRP for further legal action.[1][2] Officers put the estimated value of the cannabis at Rs8,87,450.[1][2]
