Daijiworld Media Network - Shivamogga

Shivamogga, Nov 22: A swift operation by security personnel at the Shivamogga Central Prison on Friday led to the seizure of narcotics in two coordinated smuggling attempts, exposing a daring effort to push drugs into the high-security facility.

The incident came to light when an auto driver arrived at the prison entrance claiming he had been instructed by the canteen to deliver five sacks of bananas. After dropping the sacks outside the gate, he immediately drove away, raising suspicion. During routine inspection, officials noticed that the sacks had been carefully slit open. Inside them, they discovered packets of marijuana, weighing 123 grams, along with dozens of cigarettes, all tightly wrapped in gum tape and hidden beneath the bananas.

Even before officials could finish assessing the first seizure, another attempt was uncovered. An SDA staffer reporting for duty, identified as Satwik, was found carrying 170 grams of marijuana concealed under his innerwear, wrapped in the same type of gum tape used in the earlier recovery. He was detained on the spot and handed over to the police.

The identical packaging, timing and location of both incidents indicate that the two discoveries were part of a single, well-planned smuggling operation. Investigators believe the banana sacks were intended as the external drop, while the staff member was likely assigned to carry the contraband further inside the prison.

Both cases were reported to the Tunganagar Police and complaints were filed under the Karnataka Prison Act and relevant sections of the NDPS Act. Police have begun a detailed investigation to uncover whether additional insiders or external handlers are linked to the smuggling network and how long such operations may have been underway.