The city police seized 50 kg of ganja worth an estimated Rs 5 lakh being transported to Koyambedu in an autorickshaw.
The policemen effected the seizure during a routine vehicle check at Kilpauk on Friday night. They took the autodriver Ponnuvelur(52)into custody. Police sources said that Chetpet Inspector Mariappan, holding additional charge at Kilpauk police station, his team and traffic wing personnel stopped an auto near Gengu Reddy subway at Kilpauk.
Before the vehicle could come to a halt, two passengers in it alighted and fled. The policemen checked the luggage and found ganja packed in a consignment. Initially, the driver claimed innocence, but later admitted during interrogation that he knew what was being transported. He said he was hired at Mint. Kilpauk inspector S Charles Samraj said the driver was booked. Search is on for the absconding duo.
“The ganja could have been changing hands among dealers for retail sales either in the city or in other parts of the State,” a senior police officer said. He added that the ganja would fetch about Rs 5 lakh through retail sales.