Illegal Kerala Lottery Trade Persists Across Tamil Nadu Border
Despite heightened surveillance along the Kerala, Tamil Nadu border, the illegal smuggling and sale of banned Kerala lottery tickets continues across Coimbatore district. Police data shows the trade remains active in both border villages and interior rural areas, with hundreds of cases registered annually under the Tamil Nadu Lottery Regulation Act, underscoring persistent enforcement challenges.
During the operation, officers seized 1,900 banned Kerala lottery tickets along with Rs 2 crore ($200,000) in cash. Officials noted that a portion of the seized amount was held in high-denomination notes. The accused was later identified as a cashier at a lottery shop in Kerala’s Palakkad district, with police stating that tickets were distributed across Coimbatore and Tirupur districts.
Large Seizures Highlight Presence of Organised Lottery Distribution Networks
Police records suggest the problem was equally significant in 2024. That year, authorities seized 62,791 banned lottery tickets and recovered Rs 2.25 crore ($225,000) in cash. One of the largest cases emerged on December 24, 2024, when police conducted a search at a residence in Balaji Nagar under the Karumathampatti police limits.
In 2025 alone, Coimbatore district police seized 37,406 banned Kerala lottery tickets valued at Rs 14.87 lakh ($14,870). During the same period, authorities registered 691 cases and arrested 723 individuals linked to the illegal sale of lottery tickets. Cash worth Rs 6.04 lakh ($6,040) was also recovered, highlighting the scale of the trade despite repeated enforcement drives.
Police Enforcement Focuses on Agents and Dealers over Retail Sellers
According to district police officials, individuals involved in illegal lottery sales are categorised into retailers, agents, dealers, and kingpins. Enforcement efforts are primarily focused on agents and dealers, who are believed to manage bulk distribution and cross-border movement of tickets.
Authorities say Coimbatore’s proximity to Kerala continues to complicate enforcement. Frequent travel between the two states allows individuals to procure lottery tickets legally in Kerala and resell them illegally in Tamil Nadu. In some cases, individuals cross the border solely for this purpose.
Special District-Wide Raids Reinforce Continued Crackdown on illegal Sales
To curb illegal activity, district police conducted special raids on December 8 and December 31, 2025, covering all six sub-divisions in Coimbatore. These operations led to the seizure of 2,663 lottery tickets, Rs 26,000 in cash, and multiple mobile phones. Sixty cases were registered and 64 people were arrested.
Border Villages and Rural Regions Remain Key Hotspots for Illegal Trade
Police officials report that border villages such as Anaikatti and Meenatchipuram, along with rural areas including Perur, Peryianaickenpalayam, and Valparai, remain key hotspots. Enforcement is often complicated by discreet transactions and small, mobile networks operating across villages.
Authorities have also flagged cases where buyers were promised winnings that were never paid, with many victims choosing not to report incidents due to fear of legal consequences. Police say surveillance and targeted enforcement will continue as the illegal lottery trade remains active across the region.
Follow For More: LinkedIn
