Jamshedpur, Aug. 9: The increasing demand for foreign-made electronic goods and batteries in southern India, especially Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, in the last few years and heightened vigil of the Central excise and customs department on sea ports have made smugglers turn to trains for safe passage.

Sources in the customs department said the porous international border of Assam and West Bengal with the neighbouring countries of Nepal, China and Bangladesh and the availability of a large number of trains connecting the eastern part of the country with south help smuggling. “At the same time, the country is losing a huge amount in terms of revenue,” said sources.

Foreign goods, especially those manufactured in China, are easily smuggled into the country either directly or through Nepal and Bangladesh across the international borders in Assam and West Bengal, said sources. Another reason for taking trains is the low security vigil of police and revenue officials as compared to ports, they added.

“Guwahati and New Jalpaiguri are the two important places from where Chinese goods are distributed all over the country, especially south India. Local businessmen receive these goods, pack them according to the requirements of their counterparts in different parts of the country and despatch them as parcels by railways,” said a custom official from Ranchi.

He said though a large number of trains is used for this purpose, the Guwahati-Chennai Express, is a favourite with the smugglers. Over the last few months, Chinese goods worth over Rs 15 lakh have been seized from the Guwahati-Chennai Express through raids conducted at various stations, said the official. “Batteries and calculators worth Rs 10 lakh were seized from the Tatanagar station alone,” he added.

Sources at Tatanagar railway station said the last five consignments seized by the customs officials were worth several lakhs of rupees. “Batteries worth Rs 1.24 lakh were seized on April 18, followed by another haul of batteries and calculators worth Rs 3.6 lakh on July 3. The last consignment, seized on last Friday, was worth Rs 6 lakh. All of them were recovered from the luggage van of Guwahati-Chennai Express,” they added.

Station manager of Tatanagar A.K. Chatopadhyay, said the goods are usually booked under two categories — at “own risk” and at “railway’s risk”. “We usually don’t check the consignments booked at own risk. The smugglers took advantage of this practice,” he said.

Railway officials said the smuggled items are usually loaded from Guwahati, New Jalpaiguri, Asansol and Andul stations.

“Laxity of revenue department officials, local police and railway staff at the station also helps loading. Out of these stations, Guwahati is the most favoured spot,” said a senior officer in the Government Railway Police.

Stations like Asansol and Andul are chosen when there is a strict vigil of customs department, local police and senior railway officials, the officer added.