Bihar Opium Seizure: 77 kg Smuggled Drug Worth ₹77 Lakh Recovered in Major Railway Bust

Massive Opium Bust at Dehri-on-Sone: How the Raid Unfolded

Early morning calm at Dehri-on-Sone station in Bihar’s Rohtas district was shattered when Railway Protection Force (RPF) officers, alongside the Government Railway Police (GRP), launched an intense search operation. What they discovered—77 kilograms of opium stashed and ready for transport—raises uncomfortable questions about just how deep drug smuggling runs along India's train routes. Four men, all now in custody, were caught red-handed, trying to move illegal narcotics through one of eastern India’s busiest railway hubs.

Investigators say the opium, valued at a whopping ₹77 lakh on the Indian black market, was destined for distribution across several states. The timing couldn’t be more critical, since opium prices have been shooting up, especially in Afghanistan, where a kilo fetches an astonishing $750. With such profits at stake, it’s no surprise smugglers have become more daring—and creative.

Drug Smuggling Networks Face Growing Pressure in Bihar

This isn’t just another local bust; it’s part of a larger crackdown that’s changed the game for criminal networks. According to senior law enforcement officials, opium seizures have spiked as agencies ramp up secret surveillance and intelligence-sharing. Bihar’s railway routes, long considered soft targets for traffickers, are now seeing more surprise checks, canine patrols, and CCTV monitoring.

Officials credit the coordination between RPF, GRP, and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) for making a dent in drug supply chains. The NCB’s zonal offices play a key role—they pore over seizure data, track patterns, and alert regional teams when something looks suspicious. This behind-the-scenes work has paid off, especially as traffickers shift tactics, moving from road to rail to dodge law enforcement.

Recent arrests show traffickers try everything from hiding drugs in secret compartments to bribing cargo handlers. But the fact remains: transport hubs like Dehri-on-Sone have become battlegrounds in the fight against Bihar opium seizure cases.

Sources say the four arrested men were part of a larger network likely spread across several states, and questioning is ongoing to expose more players. Law enforcement officers believe that targeting supply points inside the railway system is the key to choking off distribution at its source.

While opium smugglers have always had an eye on India as a lucrative route, this recent bust sends a strong warning that policing isn’t what it used to be. There’s more technology, better training, and tighter coordination among agencies. And as prices for opium climb on the international market, so too does India’s determination to stop smugglers in their tracks.