CHENNAI: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Monday arrested a Madurai-based couple and seized 3 kg of hashish worth around `75 lakh near the Porur toll plaza, allegedly while they were attempting to smuggle the contraband to Sri Lanka.
The NCB Chennai Zonal Unit intercepted Sivagamasundari and her husband Gurumurthy, residents of Madurai, while they were about to board a bus near the toll plaza. Inquiry revealed that Sivagamasundari had close links with Angoda Lokka, the deceased Sri Lankan gangster and drug trafficker.
A subsequent search led to the recovery of 3 kg of hashish — a concentrated form of cannabis resin and contains the psychoactive compound THC — which was allegedly intended to be trafficked to Sri Lanka. The NCB is now probing the source of the contraband, its intended recipients and the network allegedly involved in its transnational trafficking.
Sivagamasundari had earlier been arrested by the CB-CID in a 2020 case, which pertains to the alleged fabrication of identity and other supporting documents for Lokka and facilitating his illegal stay in India.
Since the beginning of this year, the NCB Chennai Zonal Unit has seized around 2,916.42 kg of ganja, 77.67 kg of hashish oil, 1.79 kg of amphetamine, 13.04 kg of hashish and 2,799 LSD blots. The seizures have led to the arrest of 48 persons, with the total estimated value of the seized drugs put at `27.80 crore.
14.4 kg ganja seized at Chennai airport, 1 arrested
Chennai: The Chennai Customs and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) jointly seized 14.437 kg of suspected high-grade hydroponic ganja from an Indian passenger arriving from Bangkok at the Chennai airport last week. Based on targeted baggage screening, Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) officers intercepted the woman passenger after noticing suspicious images in her baggage during screening. They recovered packets with what is suspected to be hydroponically cultivated cannabis, concealed inside six Thai snack packets. The passenger was arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. She was later remanded in judicial custody. Further probe is on. ENS