Disturbing reports are emerging suggesting that Tamil Nadu is resembling Colombia in terms of drug-related issues. There is a visible prevalence of ganja, heroin, cocaine, and alcohol consumption among the youth in the state. Recent seizures of these substances have been substantial, indicating Tamil Nadu’s role as a central hub for international trafficking. The easy accessibility of these drugs has led to concerning behavior among the youth, including instances of public assault and being incapacitated by intense intoxication. Witnessing such scenes is truly lamentable.
In just a few days, dozens of reports of seizure of drugs, instances of youth squatting intoxicated on the streets have become prevalent. Here is a compilation of a few such reports.
A businessman has been apprehended for concealing drugs valued at ₹111 crore in Pudukottai district, allegedly with the intent to smuggle them through international waters for distribution to foreign countries.
Amir Sultan, originally from SP Pattinam in Ramanathapuram district, was managing a shrimp farm on leased land in Vengangudi near Mimisal, Pudukkottai district. On 10 March 2024, Acting on this tip, Trichy Customs Intelligence Unit officials discovered a significant amount of cannabis oil (hashish) and cannabis, totaling 100 kg and 876 kg respectively, intended for smuggling to Sri Lanka from this farm. Additionally, it was found that the farm was operating on government land without authorization. Following this revelation, law enforcement officers and police demolished the warehouse where the drugs were stored and disconnected the power supply to the shrimp farm.
Subsequently, the seized drugs were transferred to the Pudukottai NDPS Special Court and then to the customs office in Trichy for further investigation and legal proceedings. The customs authorities are diligently pursuing inquiries into the origin and trafficking of the ₹111 crore worth of drugs found at the shrimp farm, as well as identifying and apprehending all individuals involved. Amir Sultan, the owner of the shrimp farm had fled, was later apprehended in Trichy by Customs Intelligence officials and subsequently detained, presented before the Pudukottai Special Court, and remanded to judicial custody.
On 25 April 2024, illicit drugs worth ₹35 crore were intercepted at Chennai airport, smuggled by a Cambodian traveler, prompting an investigation into their involvement. The individual arrived via an Air Asia flight from Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. Upon landing, customs officials singled out the Cambodian traveler, who had transited through Malaysia, for questioning due to suspicions.
After a thorough inspection of the passenger’s belongings, authorities uncovered a concealed parcel containing 3.5 kilograms of cocaine. Subsequently, the suspect underwent interrogation in a separate facility to uncover the identities of those associated with the trafficking network and the origins of the illicit substances. While investigators suspect the involvement of an international drug syndicate, they are withholding further details pending ongoing inquiries.
In recent days, the Chennai airport has experienced two significant drug seizures. Just the previous day, on 24 April 2024, officials from the Central Revenue Intelligence Department confiscated 11 kg of Heroin valued at ₹11 crore from a passenger arriving from Qatar. This consecutive sequence of smuggling seizures has caused considerable unrest in the area.
In yet another viral video widely circulated on social media, a man was seen recklessly dancing while intoxicated and speeding on his two-wheeler in the Pallikaranai area. He barely sat on the seat, preferring to sing, dance, and perform comical gestures while navigating through city streets during peak hours, all without wearing a helmet. Fellow commuters recorded the incident and shared it across social media platforms.
On 25 April 2024 in Chennai, law enforcement detained a taxi driver catering to part-time IT workers by peddling ganja, along with apprehending a young woman in connection with the illicit trade possessing 1.3kg ganja. The focus was on unraveling the mechanics of this operation targeting busy IT professionals.
In an apartment complex situated in Choolaimedu Shakti Nagar, Chennai, some unmarried women reside. Concerned neighbors alerted authorities about frequent male visitors to these residences. Acting on these reports, police conducted a raid and were greeted by the pervasive odor of cannabis permeating the entire dwelling. Following an extensive search, officers discovered approximately one and a half kilograms of ganja stashed in a bag. During questioning, a woman named Sharmila, present at the scene, divulged startling details regarding the ganja distribution network aimed at IT employees.
Originating from Pudukkottai, Sharmila is employed at an IT firm in ECR. Living independently without familial support, she developed a rapport with Suresh, a local taxi driver. Seeking solace from her daily grind, Sharmila relied on the ganja provided by Suresh, thereby strengthening their bond. Leveraging this relationship, Suresh, previously confined to local distribution, expanded his operation to supply ganja to IT companies using his taxi service.
As police pieced together this narrative through Sharmila’s testimony, they apprehended Suresh for questioning. Subsequent investigations revealed his involvement in smuggling ganja from foreign states for local distribution. Despite Suresh’s admission of lucrative gains from supplying IT professionals, he adamantly denied any collusion with Sharmila.
Nevertheless, authorities discovered a weighing scale at Sharmila’s residence, implicating her in the storage of ganja. Consequently, both Suresh and Sharmila were arrested, charged respectively with ganja smuggling and possession, and presented before the court for further legal proceedings.
This incident, where a taxi driver’s unlawful activities led to his incarceration and a young woman’s association resulted in her arrest, stirred considerable unrest within the community.
Footage capturing a disturbing incident of looting and atrocities in Madurai has surfaced, depicting a group of youths intoxicated with ganja brutally assaulting an individual who had just finished work and then proceeding to vandalize shops.
As the Chitrai festival was being joyously celebrated in Madurai, reports of clashes resulting in injuries to around 23 people in various locations have sent shockwaves through the community. Among those affected is Khan Mohammad, a resident of Othakadai in Madurai district. According to reports, Khan Mohammad encountered a group of ganja-intoxicated youths while riding his two-wheeler home after work. An altercation ensued, leading Khan Mohammad to confront them. In response, the enraged youths launched a violent attack on him, pelting him with stones and subjecting him to a brutal assault.
The commotion attracted the attention of local residents, causing the assailants to flee the scene. The injured Khan Mohammad was promptly rescued by bystanders and transported to the government hospital for medical treatment. Additionally, the rampaging gang targeted several local businesses, including an ice cream shop, a fancy store, and a tea shop, causing significant damage to property amounting to several hundred rupees, as alleged by the affected traders. Moreover, those who intervened were reportedly subjected to verbal abuse.
In light of the victims’ complaints, a case has been registered at the Othakadai Police Station, prompting law enforcement to initiate a search for the perpetrators. The release of CCTV footage capturing the assault by the ganja-intoxicated youths further underscores the severity of the incident.
Another disturbing footage went viral on social media in Kasturba Nagar, Chennai, where two young individuals were discovered lying by the roadside. Concerned residents promptly dialed emergency services, prompting Patrol Police Ravichandran to arrive and rouse the youths with a splash of water.
Hailing from Ramanathapuram, the youths disclosed they had ventured to Chennai in search of employment. They claimed innocence regarding allegations of inebriation, citing a lack of access to alcohol from Tasmac. Suspecting they might reveal more at a hospital, Ravichandran summoned an ambulance.
Dinamalar reported that upon the ambulance’s arrival, the youths had vanished, presumably slipping away amidst the gathering crowd or possibly being escorted away by an unknown party. Such occurrences, lamented the police, have become a distressingly common phenomenon. They expressed frustration at encountering directives from higher authorities to release drug-addled individuals, despite their efforts to transport them to medical or law enforcement facilities for assistance.
In another episode on 25 April 2024, a bus conductor faced a vicious assault by an intoxicated youth in the Virudhachalam region. Vasanta Kumar, hailing from Kathathal village near Virudhachalam in Cuddalore district, was temporarily employed as a government bus driver. While carrying out his duties, he encountered an incident on the route from Virudhachalam bus station to Cuddalore. An inebriated young man disrupted traffic on the Chidambaram link road. When the bus driver, Arulraj, intervened and asked him to move aside, the youth attacked Arulraj, the conductor. Passengers intervened, subduing the youth and handing him over to the Virudhachalam police station. However, reports suggest that the police subsequently released the assailant.
Incensed by this turn of events, the bus driver informed his colleagues, leading to a protest by government bus employees in Vridthachalam, demanding the arrest of the attacker. This protest caused an hour-long disruption in traffic in the area.
Following the disruption, Virudhachalam District Collector Udayakumar and the police convened a reconciliation meeting with the bus workers. Assurances were made that the drunken youth would be apprehended. Subsequently, the government bus workers ceased their protest and resumed their duties.
If this scenario escalates unchecked, the potential of the state’s youth will be irreversibly squandered. It appears that the DMK administration is also overlooking the issue, oblivious to the grave repercussions it may bring about.
In the current DMK regime, notable figures from Kollywood who were previously vocal advocates for societal issues, such as film stars, journalists, and social activists, seem notably reticent. This silence contrasts with their previous activism. For instance, actors like Suriya, Sidharth, and Kamal Haasan, who have been vocal about issues like drug abuse through their movies, now seem conspicuously subdued. Despite earning substantial salaries, often in the millions, particularly through awareness-raising films, their public engagement appears muted.
Take, for instance, Kamal Haasan, who gifted director Lokesh Kanagaraj a Lexus ES 300h following the success of “Vikram,” a gesture valued at approximately 1 crore. While such lavish gifts are exchanged, one might question why these funds aren’t directed towards initiatives like rehabilitation centers to aid youths affected by drug abuse. It’s disconcerting to observe that despite the evident need for intervention, it appears that financial gain takes precedence over genuine social impact. This raises concerns about the true motivations behind their activism and whether it’s driven by a genuine desire for change or merely profit.
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