Illegal lottery ticket smuggling in Tamil Nadu continues despite increase in enforcement

Seizures highlight the persistence of cross-border lottery trafficking from Kerala.

India.- Illegal smuggling of Kerala lottery tickets continues in India’s Tamil Nadu state despite increased surveillance and enforcement actions on the Kerala–Tamil Nadu border. Police data from Coimbatore district indicate that the underground lottery trade remains active in border communities as well as rural interior areas, sustained by organised distribution networks.

In 2025, authorities in Coimbatore seized 37,406 illegal lottery tickets, valued at an estimated INR1,48m (US$16,500). Police registered 691 cases under the Tamil Nadu Lottery Regulation Act, arrested 723 individuals, and confiscated INR604,000 (US$6,700) in cash linked to illegal lottery sales.

Officials say Coimbatore’s proximity to Kerala facilitates frequent cross-border movement, allowing tickets purchased legally in one state to be resold illegally in another. In 2024, police seized 62,791 banned tickets and recovered INR22,500,000 (US$250,000).

Enforcement efforts focus primarily on agents and dealers handling bulk volumes. District police carried out raids in December across all subdivisions of Coimbatore. Authorities have identified several border and rural areas as hotspots and for further targeted operations.

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Seizures highlight the persistence of cross-border lottery trafficking from Kerala. India.- Illegal smuggling of Kerala lottery tickets continues in India’s Tamil Nadu state despite increased surveillance and enforcement actions on…