Illegal Kerala Lottery Ticket Smuggling Persists in Coimbatore Despite Increased Surveillance
Ongoing Smuggling Issues in Coimbatore
Coimbatore, Jan 7: Despite intensified monitoring at the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border, the illicit trade and distribution of prohibited Kerala lottery tickets continue to thrive in Coimbatore district, raising alarms among law enforcement agencies.
According to police statistics, in 2025, authorities in Coimbatore seized 37,406 illegal lottery tickets valued at approximately Rs 14.87 lakh. That same year, 691 cases were filed under the Tamil Nadu Lottery Regulation Act.
In a series of enforcement actions, Coimbatore rural police apprehended 723 individuals linked to the illegal sale of Kerala lottery tickets, confiscating Rs 6.04 lakh in cash. This marks a significant increase compared to the previous year. In 2024, police seized 62,791 banned lottery tickets and recovered an impressive Rs 2.25 crore in cash, highlighting the extensive illegal network operating across the border.
A notable operation occurred on December 24, 2024, when Karumathampatti police raided the home of Nagaraj, 42, in Balaji Nagar, leading to the recovery of 1,900 banned Kerala lottery tickets and Rs 2 crore in cash. Remarkably, over Rs 2 lakh of the seized cash was in Rs 2,000 notes. Nagaraj, who was arrested, worked as a cashier in a lottery shop in Walayar, Kerala, and was allegedly distributing tickets throughout Coimbatore and Tirupur districts.
Police have categorized individuals involved in the illegal lottery business into four groups: retailers, agents, dealers, and kingpins, with enforcement efforts primarily focused on agents and dealers who manage large quantities. However, retailers are also under scrutiny and are not exempt from action.
Due to Coimbatore's closeness to the Kerala border, frequent cross-border movements have made it easier to smuggle lottery tickets. Some individuals reportedly travel to Kerala specifically to acquire tickets for illegal resale in Tamil Nadu. To combat this, district police executed special raids across all six subdivisions on December 8 and December 31, 2025.
These operations led to the confiscation of 2,663 lottery tickets, Rs 26,000 in cash, and 11 mobile phones, resulting in 60 cases filed and 64 arrests.
Senior police officials have noted that illegal lottery sales are particularly prevalent in border areas like Anaikatti and Meenatchipuram, as well as rural regions such as Perur, Peryianaickenpalayam, and Valparai. There have also been reports of buyers being deceived with promises of prize amounts ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000.
Many victims hesitate to report these incidents to the police due to fears of legal repercussions, as both the sale and purchase of lottery tickets are illegal in Tamil Nadu. Authorities have announced plans for further targeted operations to dismantle the illegal lottery network in and around Coimbatore.