Three individuals, including a Christian pastor, were apprehended by Tamil Nadu police near Kovilpatti while trying to smuggle drugs (Ganja) valued at one crore to Sri Lanka via Thoothukudi.
The smuggling operation was brought to light when the driver of a container lorry was apprehended with a startling confession. The individual, identified as Sakthibabu (39) from Puducherry’s Enam area, admitted to transporting 600 kilograms of ganja concealed within the lorry. The drug was stashed in 300 plastic bag parcels, each weighing 2 kilograms, and had been ingeniously tucked away in a secret compartment.
The arrest followed a well-coordinated effort by the police in response to a tip-off received by Thoothukudi SP Balaji Saravanan. Intelligence had suggested that bundles of ganja were being transported from Andhra Pradesh to Thoothukudi in a container truck. Acting swiftly, three Special Investigation teams were dispatched to three potential locations: the Aruppukkottai-Ettayapuram road, Kovilpatti-Inam Maniachi road, and the Kayatharu-Salipudhur toll gate.
At the Salipudhur toll gate, the container lorry driven by Sakthibabu was subjected to thorough inspection by the Special Inspectors, namely Ravikumar, Rajaprabu, and Fredrikarajan. To their astonishment, hidden within the lorry’s secret compartment, they discovered a massive haul of 600 kilograms of Ganja, neatly packaged in 300 plastic bags, each weighing 2 kilograms.
Following this discovery, the police swiftly arrested three individuals associated with the smuggling operation. Alongside Sakthibabu, Christian preacher John Arputha Bharat (33) from Arakiyapuram, Tuticorin, and Vijayakumar (36) from State Bank Colony, Tuticorin, were taken into custody. The seized Ganja, valued at approximately one crore rupees, along with the container lorry, was handed over to the Kovilpatti Prohibition and Enforcement Division police.
Sakthibabu provided a detailed statement to the police, shedding light on the intricate network involved in this illicit trade. He admitted to ferrying Ganja-laden trucks from Andhra Pradesh to Tuticorin on previous occasions, describing a well-organized system orchestrated by a mysterious owner. This system involved parking the truck in remote locations, where two local individuals would transfer the contraband and later inform the owner of the truck’s whereabouts. Subsequently, Sakthibabu would return to Thoothukudi, take another truck, and head back to Andhra Pradesh.
The Ganja, imported from Andhra Pradesh, was destined for Sri Lanka via the Tuticorin sea route before being further distributed to various countries worldwide. Despite the inherent risks and the fear of being caught by law enforcement agencies, Sakthibabu, and his associates continued their criminal activities due to the substantial monetary gains involved.
It was reported that the breakthrough in this case was achieved through the cooperation of a former member of the Ganja smuggling network, who provided critical information to the police, leading to the arrests.
(with inputs from Dinakaran)
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