Despite intensified surveillance along the Kerala–Tamil Nadu border, the illegal smuggling and sale of banned Kerala lottery tickets continue unchecked in Coimbatore district, posing a major challenge for law enforcement agencies.
Police data indicate that in 2025 alone, Coimbatore district police seized 37,406 banned Kerala lottery tickets worth approximately Rs 14.87 lakh. During the same period, 691 cases were registered under the Tamil Nadu Lottery Regulation Act, highlighting the persistent nature of the illegal trade.
As part of ongoing enforcement measures, Coimbatore rural police arrested 723 individuals involved in the unlawful sale of lottery tickets and confiscated Rs 6.04 lakh in cash. Officials noted that the situation has worsened compared to the previous year. In 2024, authorities seized 62,791 banned lottery tickets and recovered Rs 2.25 crore in cash, underscoring the vast scale of the smuggling network operating across state borders.
One of the most significant crackdowns occurred on December 24, 2024, when Karumathampatti police raided the residence of Nagaraj (42) in Balaji Nagar. The operation resulted in the seizure of 1,900 banned Kerala lottery tickets and Rs 2 crore in cash, including over Rs 2 lakh in Rs 2,000 denomination notes. Nagaraj, who was arrested, reportedly worked as a cashier at a lottery outlet in Walayar, Kerala, and was allegedly supplying tickets across Coimbatore and Tirupur districts.
Police officials categorize those involved in the illegal lottery trade into four groups—retailers, agents, dealers, and kingpins. While enforcement efforts primarily focus on agents and dealers handling bulk transactions, authorities stressed that retailers are also under strict surveillance and are not exempt from legal action.
Coimbatore’s proximity to the Kerala border has facilitated frequent cross-border movement, with some individuals reportedly traveling to Kerala solely to procure lottery tickets for illegal resale in Tamil Nadu. To curb the practice, police conducted special district-wide raids on December 8 and December 31, 2025, across all six subdivisions. These operations led to the seizure of 2,663 lottery tickets, Rs 26,000 in cash, and 11 mobile phones, with 60 cases registered and 64 arrests made.
Senior officials noted that illegal lottery sales are particularly prevalent in border areas such as Anaikatti and Meenatchipuram, as well as rural pockets including Perur, Peryianaickenpalayam, and Valparai. In several cases, buyers lured with promises of prize money ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000 were cheated. However, many victims avoid reporting such incidents due to fear of legal repercussions, as both buying and selling lottery tickets are banned in Tamil Nadu.
Authorities have confirmed that more targeted operations are planned to dismantle the illegal lottery network operating in and around Coimbatore.
