Despite calls from the judiciary, BJP, and other opposition parties in Tamil Nadu to combat the drug menace, recent media reports suggest a troubling reality. The Madras High Court previously highlighted concerns over the intelligence wing of the Tamil Nadu police, which conducted a survey revealing alleged collusion between police officials and drug cartels.
The Tamil Nadu Intelligence Department has compiled a list of 850 police officials reportedly involved in drug trafficking, which has been submitted to Director General of Police Shankar Jiwal. This revelation has sparked significant backlash from opposition parties and the Union government, intensifying pressure on the Tamil Nadu administration to address the issue.
Customs officials at Chennai airport and various locations, including Ramanathapuram, Madurai, and Thoothukudi, have reported a significant increase in narcotic drug seizures. Recent arrests include international smuggler and former DMK NRI wing member Jaffer Sadia, along with his brother Saleem, for allegedly smuggling methamphetamine disguised as food items to Australia and New Zealand. Both face charges under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
On September 9, Madras High Court Acting Chief Justice D. Krishnakumar raised concerns about how narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances continue to reach school and college students, despite the presence of multiple enforcement agencies. In a session with Justice P.B. Balaji, the court directed the state to develop an action plan to combat the drug crisis in Tamil Nadu, with a focus on protecting the student community, by September 19.
In May of this year, the Madras High Court instructed the Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu, the Secretary of the Home Department, and the Director General of Police to establish a High-Level Secret Committee. This committee, composed of officers with integrity, is tasked with monitoring police officials suspected of collusion with drug offenders. The court sought clarification on the number of cases related to ganja sale and smuggling, the status of final reports filed in courts, and the handling of seized cannabis.
The government reported that over the past three years, 2,486 individuals from foreign states have been arrested for their involvement in ganja sales, with ongoing actions in progress. However, the court expressed concerns that ganja trafficking could persist without the complicity of both judiciary and law enforcement officials, questioning the effectiveness of current anti-drug efforts. While recognizing the state’s initiatives to combat drug proliferation, the Division Bench, led by Justice P. Velmurugan and Justice K. Rajasekar, emphasized the crucial role of vigilant and efficient policing in tackling the illicit drug trade.
The Bench has instructed the Chief Secretary, the Home Department Secretary, and the Director General of Police in Tamil Nadu to swiftly establish the High-Level Secret Committee composed of integrity officers. This committee is responsible for closely monitoring police officials suspected of collusion with drug offenders, thereby enhancing the state’s efforts to combat the illicit drug trade and ensure public safety.
The access to drugs in TN under the DMK Govt is becoming easier like never before as peddlers are given plum posts in DMK, making law enforcement a joke.
This incident in Madurai where an innocent biker gets attacked is 4th such incident in TN in the last few days reported as… pic.twitter.com/LTR8RSxDj4
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) April 23, 2024
oth the Union government and the courts have expressed dissatisfaction with Tamil Nadu’s response to the drug crisis. In light of increasing pressure, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has pledged to establish a “Drug-Free Tamil Nadu” and convened high-level meetings with police officials. He has ordered the creation of a new task force by merging the Narcotics Intelligence Unit and the Prohibition Enforcement Wing, aimed at intensifying efforts against drug smuggling. Last year, this unit conducted statewide operations, resulting in the arrest of 22,447 drug dealers and the seizure of 42,337 kg of ganja, 1.234 kg of heroin, 74,412 narcotic pills, and 223 kg of other substances. So far this year, 4,522 cases have been registered, leading to 7,123 arrests and the confiscation of 11,081 kg of ganja and 74,016 pills.
Critics argue that the government’s focus has primarily been on apprehending small-time dealers, while larger drug networks and kingpins remain largely unaddressed.
Critics highlight a recent raid in Nagapattinam, where 400 kg of ganja valued at Rs 4 crore, destined for Sri Lanka, was seized. Controversially, photos emerged of Nagai Inspector Periyasamy dining with members of the same smuggling gang he was allegedly targeting, raising public distrust. In Katangulathur, near Chennai, over 500 officers conducted raids on private hostels and residences near an autonomous university, confiscating ganja and gutka. A similar operation in Neelampur, near Coimbatore, involved 200 officers seizing drugs and weapons, including knives and sickles, from students’ homes.
Amidst these developments, the Intelligence Service compiled a list of 850 police personnel implicated in drug-related activities, prompting high-level government action. A senior official stated, “Drug trafficking is a crime that destabilizes the country and jeopardizes future generations. We have advised the government to take strict action against those guilty, setting a precedent for others.” A netizen commented on X, “While your @arivalayam Government boasts about operations to combat the drug menace, the harsh reality is that drug trafficking has become a full-fledged industry, thriving with the support of those meant to protect us.”
𝟖𝟓𝟎 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥 𝐍𝐚𝐝𝐮’𝐬 𝐃𝐫𝐮𝐠 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬: 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐂𝐌 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐮 @𝐦𝐤𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐯𝐥'𝐬 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 & 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧?
Alarming and deeply shameful! Recent press… https://t.co/g4qIOKWaRl
— Dr. Arvind Menon (@MenonArvindBJP) September 18, 2024
He questioned, “Thiru @mkstalin, where is the accountability? What action will you take against these 850 allegedly corrupt officers? Will this list with the DGP just lead to a round of transfers while the drug business continues to thrive?”
The BJP has called for decisive measures to protect Tamil Nadu’s youth, criticizing the government’s responses as “meaningless raids” and empty promises. Critics are left wondering what type of government action will follow. Will it be merely symbolic suspensions or transfers of the officials on the list, without any serious consequences for their involvement in the drug trade?
