Hyderabad: Smugglers are taking advantage of restrictions, lack of knowledge and technology in the railway cargo system to detect banned products and loopholes in the checking of parcels to smuggle contraband into the city.
Inspector K. Benaiah of the Railway Protection Force, Secunderabad, said, “On every consignment, the sender should have a forwarding note declaring the material and other particulars. The parcel office issues a railway receipt (RR) which should be shown at the parcel office in the destination station to collect the parce.”
He said the smugglers deceived the railways by stating that the material in the packed cartons was pan masala, which is not banned in Telangana state, but actually contained chewing tobacco.
He said if the RPF finds that the material in the package is different from what is declared, the police books a case under Section 164 of the Railways Act for unlawfully bringing dangerous goods on the railway by false declaration.
He said it is impossible to check every package and the delivery is done in good faith. “The RPF will randomly check the parcels,” he added.
