Smugglers use women couriers to move ganja across states

Police have found a new trend in ganja smuggling along the Andhra–Odisha border. Trafficking networks are using women couriers to transport small consignments to different parts of the country to avoid suspicion.

Police said women from poor families in Odisha, Bihar, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are being drawn into the trade with the promise of easy money. Some are also relatives of petty smugglers. In the last three to four months, police in north Andhra districts — Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, Parvathipuram Manyam, Anakapalle and Alluri Sitharama Raju — have arrested more than 30 women for transporting cannabis.

Officials said women account for only 5 to 6 per cent of the total arrests in ganja cases. However, police believe their role in the network is growing. Couriers are paid around ₹50,000 to ₹60,000 a month to carry consignments to cities such as Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi, and to states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh. Most of the travel takes place by train.

Smugglers prefer women couriers because female passengers are less likely to face checks. Without clear intelligence, police find it difficult to identify them. Some women travel as tourists to avoid suspicion.

Investigations show that couriers collect ganja and hash oil from border areas and transport them using public transport. They often avoid sitting near the bags that contain 3 to 5 kg of contraband. If police check the luggage, they leave the bags and try to escape.

In a few cases, women have travelled by car while posing as tourists. Police said smuggling groups are changing their methods as enforcement increases.

Officials said the arrests show the need for stronger intelligence and public awareness to stop the recruitment of women into the illegal trade. They said traffickers take advantage of poverty and the lack of jobs to lure women with the promise of quick money.

Police have increased surveillance in north Andhra, especially at railway stations, bus stands and border check-posts. Special teams are also tracking the movement of couriers to break the smuggling networks.