On Thursday, a team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Kochi carried out unexpected searches at eight locations in Chennai and seized 10 kg of Ganja as well as ₹82 lakh in unaccounted cash, 300 grams of gold worth about ₹16 lakh, and 1,000 Singapore dollars (61,455) from some individuals they suspected of having connections to Sri Lankan nationals involved in drug smuggling.
A trader named Muhammad Iliyaz who owns a shop in Chennai’s Burma Bazaar area was detained by the team of six NIA officials who conducted the checks. Later, he was taken to Kochi for interrogation.
In order to conduct the checks at the eight locations, including one at a store in the Evening Bazaar area close to the RBI subway, at least 50 members of the city police’s armed reserve unit provided cover. The checks, which began in the afternoon went on up to 9 pm.
The NIA arrested nine people in December 2022 from a special camp for Sri Lankan refugees in Trichy after receiving information that they were all working with Haji Salim, a Pakistan-based drug smuggler. He is suspected of being involved in the March 2021 incident near Kerala’s Vizhinjam port, when Indian defense forces intercepted a boat carrying 300 kg of heroin, five AK-47 machine guns, and 1,000 rounds of 9mm bullets.
According to NIA officials, all of these incidents are connected to a group of Sri Lankan Tamils who are allegedly working to resurrect the banned terrorist organization Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) through drug smuggling and illegal arms dealing.
(With inputs from New Indian Express)
Click here to subscribe to The Commune on Telegram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.