Palakakd: The sudden increase in the amount ganja seized by the Excise officials show that smugglers now prefer public transport facilities to bring in narcotic substances to the state. Officials say that ganja is being brought to Palakkad from other states in public transport buses and trains in large quantities.

According to the data available with the Excise Department, in the last seven months, a whopping 167 kg of ganja has been seized from smugglers travelling in buses and trains. Excise officials said that in the last six months, they had been frequently seizing the narcotic substance after they intensified checks in private buses.

Smugglers use buses run by KSRTC, Tamil Nadu Transport Corporation and private buses to bring in ganja to Palakkad. Once the drugs arrive in Palakkad, it is picked up at different parts of the district. K.V. Lalkumar, divisional deputy Excise Commissioner, Palakkad, said that apart from ganja, the department has seized 87 kg of ganja plants, 500 gm of hashish oil and 2,80,637 packets of Hans. “We have intensified inspection in check posts and railway stations,” he added.