Palakkad (Keralam) [India], July 2 : A tattoo artist from Sikkim was arrested at Palakkad Junction Railway Station for allegedly possessing prescription painkiller Tramadol tablets without valid authorisation during a joint inspection conducted by the Excise Department and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) on Wednesday.
The accused has been identified as Sashi Hang Subba, a resident of Lingchom, TikJyo, in Sikkim.
According to officials, Subba, a tattoo artist, was travelling to Kochi to visit a spa where his brother works when he was intercepted during the inspection. During questioning, he told officials that the Tramadol tablets were meant to help reduce pain for people getting tattoos.
He also informed the authorities that he had purchased the tablets in Bengaluru.
Officials, however, said that tramadol is a prescription-only medication, and possessing it without a valid doctor's prescription is illegal under the provisions governing psychotropic substances. The drug, while commonly prescribed for the management of moderate to severe pain, is also known to be misused because of its narcotic-like effects.
Following the seizure of the tablets, the Excise Department initiated further legal proceedings against the accused. Authorities are also investigating the source of the medication and whether there are any wider links to the unauthorised distribution of prescription drugs.
The arrest comes amid Keralam's intensified campaign against narcotics and the illegal possession of controlled substances under the state government's "Operation Toofan".
Earlier this week, Keralam Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala reiterated the government's commitment to eliminating drug trafficking in the state, stating that narcotics gangs would not be allowed to operate in Keralam.
According to the state government, the anti-drug drive has led to the seizure of narcotic substances worth crores of rupees, the arrest of over 5,000 people, and the registration of around 4,500 cases. Police data also showed that Keralam registered 36,314 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in 2025, reflecting intensified enforcement efforts against drug trafficking and abuse.