The recent drug seizure in Chennai’s Kilambakkam has reignited concerns about whether the state continues to suffer due to drug smuggling activities it struggled to contain before. This anxiety is reminiscent of the period leading up to the elections when Tamil Nadu experienced a series of high-profile drug busts. During that time, there were widespread fears that the state was slipping into a drug-prevalent culture.
Now, a new seizure valued at ₹70 crore has surfaced, involving a prominent figure— the Vice President of the Minority Welfare Wing in the ruling DMK party. Additionally, it’s worth noting that an international drug peddler, Jaffer Sadiq, who was also an NRI wing head of the DMK, was recently arrested by the NCB and is currently under investigation for running a drug cartel.
This is a grave issue, as drug traffickers are openly smuggling drugs through international waters to neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka, which threatens national security. It’s particularly alarming whether Ramanathapuram has become a hub for these activities. Despite a series of significant drug busts in the area over the past few months, trafficking continues unabated. The latest case involves Syed Ibrahim, who was recently expelled from the DMK party and had plans to traffic methamphetamine to Ramanathapuram to facilitate smuggling operations to Sri Lanka.
In light of this situation, it is important to review previous drug seizures, particularly those in Ramanathapuram.
Drug Bust 1
Ex-DMK functionary Syed Ibrahim‘s operation to smuggle ₹70 crore worth of methamphetamine to Ramanathapuram and subsequently to Sri Lanka was thwarted, and the drugs were seized by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) based on intelligence on 24 July 2024. Three individuals have been arrested after the seizure. The arrested include Bysul Rahman and Ibrahim from Ramanathapuram and Mansoor from Chennai. It should be noted that Syed Ibrahim, who holds the Vice President post of the DMK Minority Welfare Wing, was expelled from the party on 30 July 2024.
The NCB had intensified their surveillance across various locations, including bus stands, railway stations, and airports in Chennai, following a tip-off about drug trafficking. On 24 July 2024, at the Kilambakkam bus stand, a passenger from Ramanathapuram was intercepted and found to own 5.970 kg of methamphetamine. His confession led to the arrest of two additional suspects and the discovery of a godown near Redhills, where 954 grams of methamphetamine and ₹7 lakh in cash were found.
In total, 6.920 kg of methamphetamine was seized, with an estimated market value of around ₹70 crore. Additionally, ₹7 lakh in cash was confiscated. The accused were reportedly planning to smuggle the drugs to Sri Lanka through Ramanathapuram, according to P Aravindhan, Zonal Director of the NCB in Chennai.
Drug Bust 2
On 11 March 2024, Customs Preventive in Trichy successfully thwarted a drug smuggling attempt, seizing 100 kilograms of hashish valued at ₹110 crore and 876 kilograms of ganja worth ₹1.05 crore in Mimisal in Tamil Nadu’s Pudukottai district.
Responding to a tip-off, Trichy Central Intelligence Division Customs officers confiscated 400 bags of drugs concealed in a shrimp farm near Mimisal, intended for smuggling to Sri Lanka using a country boat through the Tondi Sea. Authorities are actively pursuing Sultan from SP Pattinam, suspected of being involved in drug smuggling. Acting on details provided to the Customs Department of Trichy Central Intelligence Division, investigators examined a fish trading company and shrimp farms along the Ramanathapuram district border last night.
In the course of the searches, authorities seized 876 kg of ganja that was unlawfully stored in a shrimp farm for illicit transportation to Sri Lanka. The confiscated ganja was transported to the Ramanathapuram Customs Office for further inquiry. Preliminary investigations disclosed that the ganja bundles originated from a shrimp farm owned by the Sultan of SP Pattinam. It was also discovered that a trio had orchestrated a plan to smuggle the ganja to Sri Lanka using a country boat on the ensuing Sunday night.
#WATCH | UPDATE | Tamil Nadu: Trichy Customs Preventive seizes 100 kilograms of Hashish worth Rs 110 Crores and 876 kilograms of Ganja worth Rs 1.05 Crores at Mimisal. The goods were seized under the provisions of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 and Customs… pic.twitter.com/fWYk6Dr61I
— ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2024
Drug Bust 3
On 5 March 2024, in a collaborative operation, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) successfully thwarted a drug smuggling attempt near Mandapam, Ramanathapuram district. Four individuals were detained, and narcotics valued at ₹108 crore were confiscated.
Acting on a tip-off, the DRI Chennai Zonal Unit, in conjunction with the Indian Coast Guard, received information about the trafficking of illicit substances from India to Sri Lanka along the coastal route near Mandapam. The joint team used a Coast Guard ship to conduct surveillance over the Gulf of Mannar on the nights of 4 and 5 March 2024.
During the deep-sea surveillance, the team observed a country boat heading towards Sri Lanka and promptly intercepted it following a brief pursuit. Upon inspection, five concealed sacks were discovered on board. The country boat, along with the contraband and its three occupants, was brought to the Coast Guard Station Mandapam for further investigation. Upon questioning, the accused individuals admitted that the bags contained narcotics received from an individual in Pamban. According to their statements, the team learned that the contraband was intended for handover to someone from Sri Lanka at sea.
In a rapid follow-up, DRI officials apprehended the individual who supplied the contraband to the three-member group from his residence. Interrogations revealed that he was the mastermind behind the organized smuggling of narcotics from India to Sri Lanka via the coastal route. Preliminary investigations disclosed that the seized drugs had been transported from various parts of the country for subsequent shipment to Sri Lanka using country boats. A total of 111 packets weighing 99 kg were confiscated from the boats. Upon testing, the contents were identified as hashish, with an international market value of approximately ₹108 crore, and seized under the NDPS Act.
DRI, Chennai seized 30kg of Methamphetamine, a NDPS substance, from a passenger arrived from Chennai at Madurai railway station. Followup search in Chennai resulted in the seizure of 6kg Methamphetamine. The total value is around ₹180 Crorehttps://t.co/Aqze6e13qJ#DRIatWork pic.twitter.com/7mLYG7KG06
— CBIC (@cbic_india) March 1, 2024
Drug Bust 4
The Central Intelligence Agency alerted local authorities about a drug smuggling operation involving methamphetamine being transported to Sri Lanka via Vedalai Beach near Mandapam in the Ramanathapuram district. Acting on this tip, the Mandapam police raided a residence in Vedalai MGR Nagar. They discovered and seized 6 kg of methamphetamine hidden within the property.
In connection with this seizure, two individuals—Nagakumar, 20, the son of Sethuraja, and Sakthivel, 23, the son of Nagu—both from the Soodai Vela Kuchu area and the house owner, have been arrested and are currently under interrogation. The methamphetamine, also known as “ice,” is estimated to have an international market value of ₹20 crore, according to police reports.
Drug Bust 5
Police seized cocaine worth ₹30 lakh near Ramanathapuram and arrested a Sri Lankan teenager, Mohammed Fazil, along with Ganesh. Mohammad Fazil, originally from Sri Lanka and the son of Mohammed Faisar, had returned from working in Malaysia and entered Tamil Nadu on a tourist visa in 2019.
After staying and working in the region for some time, he married a woman from Nambuthalai in Ramanathapuram district. Subsequently, he lived in the area without a passport and became involved in drug trafficking. Ramanathapuram S.P. Thangadurai received confidential information about his activities.
The Special Branch (S.B.) police closely monitored Mohammad Fazil and confirmed his involvement in drug trafficking. The operation was set up to intercept Fasil, who was attempting to transport drugs worth approximately ₹30 lakh from Nambuthalai to Sri Lanka. Acting on this information, the Special Branch police arrested Mohammad Fasil and his accomplice Ganesh.
Authorities seized 302 grams of white cocaine, 56 grams of brown sugar, and counterfeit ₹500 notes from the two suspects. The total value of the seized items is estimated at ₹30 lakh. Both individuals were arrested, brought before the court, and remanded to jail. The police continue to investigate for any additional involvement in the trafficking network.
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