Rs 72 Lakh Cash Seized from Inter-State Bus in Kottayam: Two Andhra Pradesh Residents Arrested in Suspected Hawala Operation

The seized cash and two apprehended individuals will be transferred to the Income Tax Department for further investigation.

Approximately Rs 72 lakh in undocumented cash was confiscated by the Excise Department from an inter-state bus operating in Kottayam. The funds were discovered during a standard vehicle check, resulting in the detention of two men from Andhra Pradesh.

These inspections were part of comprehensive statewide checks initiated before Christmas, New Year celebrations, and the upcoming local elections to combat drug trafficking and associated illegal activities. During a search operation at Kuravilangad in Kottayam, officials discovered bundles of currency hidden inside a bag. Additional suspicion led to physical searches of the two passengers, revealing more cash concealed on their persons.

Excise Inspector Rahul Raj confirmed to NDTV that the total amount seized approaches Rs 72 lakh. The detained suspects have been identified as Sheikh Jafar (59) and Rajampet Shahshas, both Andhra Pradesh residents. Neither individual could provide documentation verifying the source of the money.

The confiscated funds and the two suspects will be handed over to the Income Tax Department for thorough investigation. Authorities suspect a hawala operation is involved. The mobile phones of the accused were also seized, with pending cyber forensic analysis to determine if any connections to terror financing exist.

Inter-state buses have become preferred vehicles for moving illicit funds because inspections are infrequent and present minimal risk. Unlike private vehicles, buses rarely undergo detailed searches as these cause inconvenience to passengers and frequently generate complaints. Organized criminal networks exploit this enforcement gap.

Police sources indicate that smugglers avoid cars since highway robbery gangs often target them. In buses, such risks are substantially reduced. With numerous bags stored together, enforcement teams face difficulties in quickly determining luggage ownership.

For a minimal investment in bus fare, criminal operations can transport crores worth of black money or narcotics. Allegations exist that some buses operate with suspiciously few passengers, suggesting these services primarily facilitate illegal transport. In numerous instances, services continue despite passenger numbers too low to cover operational costs, reinforcing suspicions that certain operators are complicit in smuggling activities.

Officials emphasize that inter-state buses are increasingly utilized for various illegal operations, including transportation of tax-evaded electronics, undeclared cash, and narcotics. With elections approaching, enforcement agencies anticipate heightened risk of black money movement via long-distance buses, making them an attractive option for criminal networks seeking to circumvent routine inspections.