(Image Credit: Dinamani)
Everywhere we look in Tamil Nadu, the headlines are dominated by the concerning prevalence of concealed drugs and the widespread confiscations, casting a shadow over the state. The alarming situation suggests that the influence of drugs has surreptitiously infiltrated every nook and cranny of society, with revelations escalating following the apprehension of the international drug kingpin Jaffar Sadiq.
On 5 March 2024, the Tambaram Prohibition Enforcement Wing (PEW) apprehended two individuals for their involvement in an attempt to transport 45 kg of Ganja in Kundrathur near the Sriperumbudur Outer Ring Road (ORR). The apprehension occurred based on a specific tip provided to the police, leading to subsequent scrutiny of the vehicle.
During the inspection of two heavy vehicles, authorities discovered concealed sacks containing 20 kg of ganja in one truck and 25 kg in another, cleverly hidden among the vegetables. The individuals driving the vehicles, namely R Pooncholai and M Mukundan from Tiruvallur district, were promptly identified. Upon further investigation, the police found that the contraband had been sourced from a wholesale trader in Rajahmundry. The accused individuals confessed to procuring the illegal substance, packaging it into smaller packets, and distributing it to retailers and college students in both the city and suburban areas.
Following the arrest, the police presented the accused duo before the judicial magistrate in Sriperumbudur, and they were subsequently remanded to prison custody.
Over the past two years, state-wide illegal ganja activities led to the seizure of 47,248 kilograms of ganja, with 20,014 cases filed, 25,721 individuals arrested, and 5,723 bank accounts linked to smugglers frozen. The ganja vettai operations included Ganja Vettai 1.0 (6 December to 31 December 2021), Ganja Vettai 2.0 (March 28 to 27 April 2022), and Ganja Vettai 3.0 (12 December to 31 December 2022).
Some Of The Drug Busts In Tamil Nadu
- On 24 February 2024, DMK functionary and Tamil film producer Jaffar Sadiq was identified as the mastermind behind an organized international drug syndicate, responsible for smuggling Pseudoephedrine valued at ₹2000 Crore over the past three years.
- On 28 February 2024, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) intercepted and confiscated narcotics worth ₹1200 Crore intended for transfer and transportation to Tamil Nadu in the open seas.
- On 1 March 2024, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence seized Methamphetamine worth ₹180 Crore in Madurai.
- On 5 March 2024, Hashish valued at ₹108 Crore was confiscated by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence in Rameswaram.
- On 26 March 2023, near Red Hills, the Chennai city police apprehended two smugglers, namely A Rajkumar and T Chandrasekar, and confiscated 9.1 kilograms of methamphetamine valued at over 9 crores.
- On 16 May 2023, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Indian Navy seized 2,500kg of methamphetamine off the Kerala coast, investigating potential Indian connections to the Haji Salim network of Karachi. NIA & NCB expands its inquiry to Tamil refugee camps in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, targeting a drug cartel involving individuals foreign nationals from Pakistan, Iran, and Sri Lanka.In 2021, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) apprehended a Sri Lankan operative in Chennai after drugs were seized from a vessel manned by a Lankan crew near Vizhinjam. Haji Salim was implicated in the case, and there is an outstanding arrest warrant against him. In the preceding year, the NIA detained C Gunashekharan, Pushparajah, and eight additional individuals from Tamil Nadu, suspected to be associates of Haji Salim. These individuals were allegedly involved in acquiring drugs and weapons from him.
- Tamil Nadu Police intervened in a drug operation on August 2023, apprehending six individuals in Nagapattinam and confiscating 300 kg of ganja valued at ₹3000 crore, intended for transportation to Sri Lanka. The arrested individuals admitted to reactivating the LTTE (a Lanka based Terrorist Group) and utilizing the drug trade as a means of fundraising.
- On August 2023 Two individuals were arrested in Saidapet for suspected possession of ganja and painkiller tablets. The Police intercepted the suspects on a two-wheeler near Saidapet Railway Station, leading to the discovery of 1.2 kg of ganja, 300 drug tablets.
- From 13 November to 19 November 2023, Chennai City Police apprehended 84 suspects, initiated 62 cases, and conducted thorough checks leading to the seizure of 56.6 kg of ganja, 2.5 g OG Kush, and 207 painkillers and bank accounts of 1,782 drug peddlers involved in 814 cases since 2021 frozen. Furthermore, between January 1 and 19, they invoked the Goondas Act to detain 76 drug peddlers.
- On December 2022, The Avadi Police PEW detained A Silambarasan and J Gokul, aged 21 and 19, respectively, on charges of trafficking 21 kg of ganja from Andhra Pradesh.
- On December 2021, over 21 kgs of heroin worth ₹21 crore were seized, leading to the arrest of six individuals in Tuticorin for smuggling and selling the drug.
- In April 2021, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized more than 300 kg of cocaine worth ₹2,000 crore, at Tuticorin Port in Tamil Nadu. The contraband, which had originated from Panama and passed through Antwerp and Colombo, was intercepted based on specific intelligence.
The data from January 2022 to May 2023 reflects a concerning and escalating prevalence of illicit substances in Tamil Nadu, as revealed by the operations conducted by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). The notable seizures during this period indicate a persistent trend of drug-related activities in the state. The data is presented as a table format here:
In January 2022, confiscated 1626 Kg of Ganja, leading to 58 reported cases and 92 arrests. The trend continued in February 2022, where notable seizures included 21.32 Kg of Amphetamine Type Stimulants (ATS), 992 Kg of Ganja, and 206 Kg of Poppy Husk & Poppy Straw. Subsequent months witnessed varying quantities of Ephedrine/Pseudoephedrine, Ganja, and other substances, with fluctuations in the number of cases and arrests.
In April 2022, for instance, seizures encompassed 1.10 Kg of ATS, 49.20 Kg of Ephedrine/Pseudoephedrine, 963 Kg of Ganja, and 12.17 Kg of Heroin. The succeeding months exhibited fluctuations, such as 1.60 Kg of ATS, 5.18 Kg of Ephedrine/Pseudoephedrine, and 290 Kg of Ganja in May 2022, and 685 Kg of Ganja in June 2022. August 2022 recorded 0.24 Kg of ATS, 20.00 Kg of Ephedrine/Pseudoephedrine, 543 Kg of Ganja, and 1.00 Kg of Hashish Oil, leading to 48 reported cases and 34 arrests. In September 2022, seizures included 4.30 Kg of Ephedrine/Pseudoephedrine, 207 Kg of Ganja, 0.90 Kg of Hashish Oil, and 60 tablets of various types, resulting in 52 cases and 42 arrests. October 2022 saw substantial seizures such as 48.30 Kg of ATS, 5.37 Kg of Cocaine, 152 Kg of Ganja, 2.20 Kg of Hashish, and 0.56 Kg of Methaqualone (Mandrax). November 2022 reported 0.80 Kg of ATS, 2.00 Kg of Cocaine, 668 Kg of Ganja, 5.44 Kg of Hashish Oil, and 0.10 Kg of Mescaline.
December 2022 marked significant seizures, including 38.31 Kg of ATS, 4.84 Kg of Ephedrine/Pseudoephedrine, 310 Kg of Ganja, 50.18 Kg of Hashish, and 0.01 Kg of MDMA. The month registered 67 cases and 46 arrests.
Moving into 2023, January saw seizures of 365 Kg of Ganja and 0.01 Kg of MDMA, resulting in 23 cases and 19 arrests. February 2023 recorded 1.32 Kg of ATS, 692 Kg of Ganja, 75 blots of LSD, and 0.13 Kg of MDMA, with 42 reported cases and 26 arrests.
March 2023 witnessed 0.06 Kg of ATS, 0.01 Kg of Cocaine, 28.65 Kg of Ephedrine/Pseudoephedrine, 379 Kg of Ganja, 8.10 Kg of Heroin, and 300 tablets of various types. The month accumulated 41 cases and 47 arrests.
April 2023 reported 0.08 Kg of ATS, 128 Kg of Ganja, and 0.05 Kg of Mescaline, leading to 31 cases and 30 arrests. May 2023 recorded 2.00 Kg of ATS, 1.53 Kg of Cocaine, 218 Kg of Ganja, and 0.10 Kg of Heroin, resulting in 52 cases and 39 arrests.
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