Seized Drugs
The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court has taken a proactive stance in combating the rising menace of drug trafficking and related crimes. In response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) highlighting the surge in drug addiction among youth and subsequent criminal activities in areas like Othakadai in Madurai, the High Court has issued significant directives.
A division bench comprising Justices P Velmurugan and K Rajasekar has ordered the formation of a high-level committee consisting of officers of integrity to closely monitor police officers suspected of collusion with narcotic drug offenders.
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This directive came during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by G Thirumurugan, an advocate from Madurai district, which highlighted the rising drug addiction among youth and subsequent criminal activities, particularly in areas like Othakadai in Madurai.
The bench, after reviewing separate counter affidavits filed by police authorities, emphasised the importance of police vigilance in combating drug trafficking. The court noted that with increased vigilance and effective measures, the free movement of drugs could be curtailed significantly.
According to the National Investigation Bureau-Criminal Investigation Department (NIB-CID), substantial progress has been made in combating drug-related crimes. Over the past three years, 2,486 individuals from other states were apprehended under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Additionally, 1,674 narcotics offenders were detained under the Goondas Act, and properties worth Rs. 1.43 crores belonging to accused individuals were frozen in 2023. Furthermore, measures such as freezing 7,389 bank accounts and seizing 3,719 vehicles were undertaken to curb drug trafficking.
In response to these developments, the court directed the authorities to ensure strict adherence to the provisions of the NDPS Act to control the movement of drugs effectively. Furthermore, the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, and Director General of Police were instructed to establish a high-level committee tasked with closely monitoring police personnel suspected of collusion with drug offenders.
The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court has taken a stern stance against the recent incident involving intoxicated youths assaulting the public while riding their two-wheelers home after work in Madurai. Expressing deep concern over the incident, the court has demanded answers from the state police regarding the number of cases registered for the sale and smuggling of ganja, the status of final reports filed in courts, and the submission of seized cannabis to court.
This inquiry forms part of a broader investigation into the incident, with the court raising alarming questions about the possibility of ganja trafficking flourishing unchecked due to potential involvement from both judiciary and law enforcement officials. Doubts were cast on the effectiveness of efforts to combat ganja sales and smuggling under such circumstances.
Consequently, the Madurai bench directed relevant authorities, including the Tamil Nadu Home Secretary, Tamil Nadu Police DGP, and Director of Narcotics Control Division, to provide a comprehensive response to their inquiries. The hearing has been adjourned until May 15, 2024, awaiting these vital answers.
Meanwhile, in a separate development, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has made significant strides in combating international drug trafficking. Two major drug rackets involving the smuggling of cocaine from Brazil and MDMA tablets from the Netherlands were busted by NCB officials.
On May 9, at Chennai Meenambakkam airport, NCB arrested three women from Bolivia and Brazil, along with two men from Nigeria. A substantial amount of cocaine, weighing approximately 1.8 kg and valued at Rs. 18 crore in the international market, was seized from a Bolivian woman’s padded jacket. Acting swiftly on her statement, officials proceeded to Mumbai, where they apprehended two women, one of whom is a Brazilian national.
In recent developments concerning narcotics and illegal drug activities in Tamil Nadu, officials have made significant seizures and arrests, shedding light on the growing concerns surrounding drug trafficking in the state.
At Chennai airport, officials seized MDMA tablets worth Rs. 2 crores that were being couriered from the Netherlands to an address in Puducherry. Subsequently, a Nigerian national was apprehended in the Union territory after placing an order for the drugs.
Additionally, a four-member gang was arrested in Korukkupet for selling sedative pills and painkiller tablets. Police confiscated 1,100 tablets valued at Rs. 40,000 from the group on 17th May.
Expressing alarm over the situation, former Telangana Governor and BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan highlighted the rising use of narcotics and criminal activities in Tamil Nadu. She criticized the ruling DMK for failing to effectively combat these issues, attributing the surge in murder, robbery, and attack cases to the ready availability of narcotic drugs and the prevalent weapon culture.
Similarly, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami expressed shock over the recent NCB seizure of cocaine and MDMA valued at Rs. 22 crores at Chennai Airport. He called upon Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to take prompt and vigilant action against narcotic substances in the state, emphasizing the need for immediate measures to address the escalating drug-related challenges.
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