Chennai: In a recent crackdown on Tamil Nadu’s expanding drug network, police have dismantled multiple drug distribution rings, leading to the arrest of a 25-year-old woman and a television actress. These efforts form part of the government’s increased measures to curb drug trafficking and abuse in the region.
The first major arrest involved 25-year-old Fathima Moufia, a school dropout from Manali, Chennai. Police reports reveal that she took over her family’s drug business after her father, Shahul Hameed, was convicted for ganja smuggling three years ago. Following her father’s incarceration, Fathima allegedly continued the trade, enlisting individuals who had previously worked with him. The operation employed strict control over communications and transactions.
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The arrest came after police intercepted two men with methamphetamine. Under questioning, they revealed that Fathima was the primary organiser of the network. Following this lead, police arrested her and four aides—V. Dinesh Pratap, S. Santhosh (18), M. Praveen (20), and Tejesh (18). Fathima reportedly avoided online transactions and operated only through secured channels known to regular buyers. Her network specialized in methamphetamine, which was procured from northern India. To avoid detection, drugs were transported by train and alighted at smaller stations. Additionally, she recruited unemployed youth to assist in the business.
In a separate incident, Chennai police arrested television actress Esther (also known as Meena) on charges of possessing five grams of methamphetamine outside a popular mall on Woods Road near Anna Salai. Her blood samples were taken before she was remanded into custody. Esther is reportedly connected to a larger drug syndicate that specializes in distributing methamphetamine in Chennai.
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A third case involved a gang of four running a ganja distribution network from their apartment in Semmancheri, an area near several IT companies. Police first detained a man with 50 grams of ganja, who then provided information about his suppliers. Acting on this, authorities raided a rented apartment in Semmancheri and arrested Siva, a civil engineer, along with Anbu Jerome, Santhosh Kumar (both IT employees), and Anthony Juji, an employee of a private firm. Police seized drug paraphernalia, including bongs, weighing scales, and ganja kept in suitcases. Siva reportedly became addicted to marijuana in college and sourced drugs from his native Madurai, transporting them to Chennai by bus to evade sniffer dogs at railway stations. His customers, Anbu, Santhosh, and Anthony, later joined the business as small-scale distributors.
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Critics have questioned if there is a connection between these recent arrests and former DMK functionary Jaffar Sadiq, who was apprehended by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in February after a massive seizure of pseudoephedrine, a chemical used in meth production, from a godown of his company in Delhi. Sadiq and his associates allegedly distributed 3,500 kg of pseudoephedrine over the last three years, worth over Rs 2,000 crore in the international market. His properties have been seized under money-laundering charges, with further investigation by the Enforcement Directorate ongoing.
