Advertisement
Chennai: In a major breakthrough, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) unearthed a massive haul of methamphetamine worth Rs 180 crore intended for transportation to Sri Lanka. The seizure involved 36 kg of the potent narcotic drug, with 30 kg discovered on a rail passenger at the Madurai railway station and an additional 6 kg recovered from a dump yard in Chennai.
The well-executed planned operation by DRI officials from the Chennai Zone led to the interception of the suspect on the Madurai-bound Pothigai Express Train. Following a search of his belongings, 15 packets containing methamphetamine were confiscated, prompting further investigations that revealed additional packets at the suspect’s residence in Chennai. Subsequently, a team swiftly rushed to the dump yard in Kodungaiyur and retrieved three more packets of the illicit substance. “His home was searched in a swift move and it came to light that his wife threw away the narcotic packets in the dustbin and the garbage was already taken to the Kondungaiyur dumpyard,” the release said.
Initial inquiries indicated that the suspect was attempting to smuggle the contraband to Sri Lanka via the coastal route. Both the suspect and his wife have been detained for further questioning as the investigation unfolds.
The major drug bust in Madurai and Chennai comes amid concerns over the proliferation of narcotics in Tamil Nadu, with political leaders condemning the prevalence of drugs in the state. The Occurrence has sparked calls for heightened vigilance against drug trafficking and a plea for safeguarding youth from the perils of substance abuse.
Reacting to the recovery, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami said it was “very shocking and painful that the ruling DMK has turned Tamil Nadu into a state where all kinds of drugs like ganja, cocaine, heroin and now methamphetamine are easily available.”
BJP state chief K Annamalai too unleashes fury at the ruling dispensation and said Tamil Nadu has truly become the drug capital of India, and that Chief Minister “Thiru @mkstalin should hang his head in shame for transforming this state into a haven for drug traffickers.” “International druglord & a DMK functionary Jaffar Sadiq is on the run; NCB is raiding DMK functionaries’ establishments, Rs 1,200 crore worth enoute to TN caught off the coast of Gujarat, and today 30 Kgs of methamphetamine was caught in transit in Madurai by Directorate of Revenue Intelligence,” he said in a post on ‘X’.
“While the widespread network of Jaffar Sadiq’s is being exposed, Thiru @mkstalin remains tight-lipped, leaving one to wonder if he would wake up & act or employ his cronies to divert people’s attention to insignificant issues,” Annamalai further said in the post.
