Goa authorities have revealed a massive beef smuggling racket after they seized more than 500 kg of rotting meat at Margao railway station. Officials announced on Sunday that the shipment, misdeclared as chicken, was shipped from Delhi to Goa, revealing a years-long illegal trade.
Railway Loopholes Exploited for Years
Inspectors suspect smugglers have been using loopholes in the railway parcel scanning system to sneak beef past invisitors. “This was not a one-off affair,” said a police officer. “Based on our investigation, it appears similar operations were run on a routine basis.
The raid, led by Konkan Railway Police Inspector Sunil Gudlar, resulted in the seizure of 514.5 kg of beef valued at approximately ₹1.5 lakh. The consignment originated from Delhi’s Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station and was meant for distribution in Goa.
Authorities mentioned that the seizure was by chance. Because of the abnormally high temperature, the meat went bad early, emitting a pungent smell that attracted some attention to the clandestine consignment. “The odor grew so overpowering it could not be ignored,” an officer investigating the case said.
Key Suspect Detained, Points to Larger Syndicate
Police arrested Med Kengenavar, a local of Karnataka settled in Davorlim, who has shared crucial insights on how smugglers manage to evade security checks. Interrogation found that criminals used the lack of advanced parcel scanning technology at railway stations to transport beef under bogus documentation.
“Smugglers knew the railway parcel service does not have sophisticated scanning technology,” a police officer confirmed.
Illegal Slaughterhouse Crackdown Fuels Smuggling
Authorities believe the increased demand for beef smuggled from other states is connected to a recent crackdown on illegal slaughterhouses in Goa.
“Due to pressure from Hindu organisations, local authorities have stepped up enforcement against unauthorised cattle slaughter, unwittingly pushing the market underground,” an official said.
Ongoing Investigation Into Cross-State Operation
Lawmen are now following the supply chain and examining records in an attempt to reveal the full extent of the smuggling network. “We have a few very promising leads right now,” said Gudlar. “The trail of paperwork and records of communications is making it possible to chart out the entire network.”
The authorities suspect that this case is just a small part of a much larger multi-state operation. Therefore, they have intensified their efforts against the illegal transportation of meat.