CHENNAI: In a significant crackdown on drug trafficking, Tamil Nadu police arrested 21 individuals, including college students, following a large-scale raid in Potheri near Guduvancheri, a suburb of Chennai. The operation, which involved over 1,000 police personnel, targeted a gated community housing students primarily enrolled in engineering courses.
Cannabis raid near #Chennai: 30 students arrested in massive police operation
A massive raid by over 500 police officers in the Potheri and Katangulathur areas near Chennai led to the arrest of 30 students.
The raid targeted hostels of college and SRM University students, where… pic.twitter.com/ubZbhk6ipe
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) August 31, 2024
The raid, conducted on the morning of August 31, was initiated based on intelligence gathered from recent arrests of drug traffickers, including the high-profile apprehension of Jaffer Sadiq, a former DMK NRI wing functionary and international drug trafficker. The police had received multiple reports of narcotics being freely available, particularly within the student community, raising serious concerns about the spread of drug abuse among young people.
At around 3 AM, a team of over 500 officers from various divisions, including Tambaram, Pallikaranai, and the Traffic wing, descended on the ‘Abode Valley’ private hostel complex. This residential area, comprising 22 towers with 688 flats, is home to nearly 3,000 students, mostly from SRM Engineering College in Kattankulathur, Chengalpattu district.
சீமான் கல்வி வள்ளல் என்று புகழ்ந்த பாரிவேந்தரே என்ன இதெல்லாம்..?#பாஜக கூட்டணி வேட்பாளர் பாரிவேந்தருக்கு சொந்தமான பொத்தேரி SRM கல்லூரி & விடுதியில் 1000 போலீசார் அதிரடி சோதனை!
சோதனையில் போதை மாத்திரைகள், கஞ்சாவுக்கு பயன்படுத்தக்கூடிய போதை பொருட்கள், பாங்கு போதை வஸ்து உள்ளிட்ட… pic.twitter.com/usfql1V5VK
— Dr.Deva (@iamdrdeva) August 31, 2024
The police operation led to the seizure of a substantial amount of narcotics and related paraphernalia, including 500 grams of ganja, six ganja-infused chocolates, five packets of bhang, one smoking pot, seven hookah machines, and 6 kilograms of shisha (hookah powder). In addition to the drugs, banned tobacco products were also confiscated. A history-sheeter, Selvamani (29), was among those arrested; he was found in possession of 2 kilograms of ganja and four knives, and is suspected of being a key supplier to the students.
The raid caused significant commotion and tension within the college and surrounding areas, with students reportedly in panic as police teams moved through the complex. Police officials stated that the operation was necessary to address the rising trend of drug consumption among students, some of whom were found to be keeping small quantities of narcotics for personal use.
This is not the first time that SRM Engineering College has been associated with drug-related issues. In 2022, the college witnessed violent clashes between students from different states, leading to injuries from stone-throwing. Investigations by the Guduvancheri police revealed that the conflict was linked to competition over drug sales, particularly ganja, among the students.
The recent raid is part of a broader effort by law enforcement agencies to combat the increasing use of narcotics in Tamil Nadu, particularly in Chennai. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has reported a noticeable rise in the use of club drugs such as cocaine and LSD in the region. Just last week, on August 25, Coimbatore police arrested a 20-year-old college student, Rahhul, and seized 2.5 kilograms of ganja from his possession.
In the latest development, police arrested five men and three students from a private college in Sulur, seizing 3 kilograms of ganja during a search operation in the district on August 26.
கோவை: கல்லூரி மாணவர்கள் தங்கியுள்ள அறைகளில் போலீசார் அதிரடி சோதனை – கஞ்சா, ஆயுதங்கள் பறிமுதல்
50 மாணவர்களைப் பிடித்து தீவிர விசாரணை pic.twitter.com/td1toXLNR3
— Saravanaprasad Balasubramanian (Modi ka Pariwar) (@BS_Prasad) August 25, 2024
Acting on a tip-off, police teams searched various locations in Sulur, Chettipalayam, and Kovilpalayam, where students predominantly reside in rented rooms and houses. During the operation, authorities seized four knives and a substantial amount of ganja from the students’ accommodations. Police detained 36 youths, mostly college students and recent graduates, for questioning. In addition to the narcotics, officers confiscated 42 motorcycles that lacked valid documentation and a small quantity of synthetic drugs.
The raids are part of a broader initiative by Tamil Nadu police to tackle drug trafficking and consumption, particularly among the youth. A survey conducted by the non-governmental organization Institute of Social Education in three districts last year revealed alarming statistics: 9% of schoolchildren (Classes VII to XII) were addicted to substances such as alcohol, cool lip (a tobacco derivative), cigarettes, and ganja. Despite ongoing crackdowns, there is a troubling prevalence of synthetic drugs, ganja-laced products, and banned tobacco products being consumed by students, with reports of boys and girls indulging in smoking and drinking on school campuses and buses.
BJP state chief K. Annamalai, who has been vocal about the escalating drug problem in Tamil Nadu, previously described Chennai as the “ganja capital” of the state. Following the high-profile arrest of Jaffer Sadiq, an international drug trafficker and former DMK NRI wing functionary, Annamalai called for a concerted fight against the drug menace, urging educationalists and social activists to join forces in raising awareness about the dangers of addiction. He emphasized the need for awareness campaigns targeting students to highlight the severe consequences of drug abuse.
Let’s contribute 15 hours of our valuable time in the next 7 days to propagate de-addiction.
Let’s join together to make Tamil Nadu Drug-Free.
I’ve taken the pledge. Have you?
If not, visit https://t.co/prUlaewydt pic.twitter.com/4mkWXhuZM7
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) March 12, 2024
In another related incident, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 10 kilograms of methamphetamine valued at Rs. 50.65 crore and arrested six individuals on August 29 and 30. Acting on specific intelligence, DRI officials intercepted a vehicle near Potheri and discovered 10 packets of meth concealed in a cavity under the vehicle’s back seat. Further searches at the residences of key suspects led to the arrest of three additional individuals, including the mastermind, the supplier, and a mediator. The operation also resulted in the seizure of Rs. 1.3 crore in cash.
Recognizing the alarming scale of drug proliferation in society, the First Additional Special Court for NDPS Act Cases in Madurai directed the Inspector General of Police (IGP), South Zone, to take immediate steps to train all officers above the rank of head constable in the nuances of drug trafficking and trade.
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