The Union Finance Ministry has announced a major bust of a suspected international drug-trafficking network, with the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seizing 137 kg of methamphetamine worth over Rs 100 crore in Nagapattinam district, Tamil Nadu. Four persons, including former Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) functionary and advocate Bhoobalan, were arrested over an alleged attempt to smuggle the drugs to Sri Lanka, triggering a political row over suspected links between TVK functionaries and drug trafficking.
In a statement, the Union Finance Ministry said the seizure was among the biggest narcotics seizures in Tamil Nadu’s coastal region in recent years.
👉 DRI seizes massive 137 kg consignment of crystal meth; busts coastal drug trafficking network; 4 arrested in Tamil Nadu
⁰👉 Major intelligence-led operation foils suspected attempt to smuggle drug to Sri Lanka through maritime routeRead more ➡️ https://t.co/sE9pwqGzCo… pic.twitter.com/ZoBNzAOKxE
— Ministry of Finance (@FinMinIndia) October 18, 2026
According to the DRI, officers conducted an intensive surveillance and enforcement operation during October 16–17, 2026, following specific intelligence about a large consignment of narcotic substances transported to a coastal location in Nagapattinam district for storage and onward smuggling to Sri Lanka. The consignment was allegedly intended to be transported through a mid-sea transfer.
A subsequent search led to the recovery of six duffel bags containing 27 silver-foil packets, each weighing approximately 5 kg. The packets contained a white crystalline substance suspected to be high-purity methamphetamine. The contraband was seized under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
During a simultaneous search at the premises of the suspected organiser, DRI officers seized Rs 10 lakh in cash suspected to represent drug-sale proceeds. Two four-wheelers and one two-wheeler allegedly used to transport the narcotics were also seized.
The agency said the operation had exposed a suspected drug-trafficking network involving people responsible for organising coastal exports, transportation, storage and logistics. Four persons were arrested under the NDPS Act and remanded to judicial custody.
The DRI said the operation had removed a significant quantity of contraband from illicit circulation and disrupted a network allegedly attempting to use India’s coastline as a corridor for narcotics trafficking.
Political row over TVK functionary’s arrest
The arrest of Bhoobalan, described as a TVK functionary from Nagapattinam district, has triggered a political confrontation in Tamil Nadu, with BJP and DMK leaders questioning the ruling party over the alleged involvement of its functionaries in drug trafficking.
A post on X claimed that the ruling TVK had earlier formed 65 teams to prevent and control the entry and distribution of drugs. It questioned the state government’s effectiveness in tackling the menace following the DRI seizure involving a TVK functionary.
Ruling party @CMOTamilnadu was formed 65 teams to prevent & control drugs entry and distribution earlier.this seizure from DRI under the control of @FinMinIndia from the @TVKVijayHQ functionary shows that state government being either clueless or many of their party men involved pic.twitter.com/a6yxxiOaqC
— விமல் (@vimalan1977) October 18, 2026
Tamil Nadu BJP chief spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathi questioned the state government over an earlier methamphetamine manufacturing case in Ramanathapuram.
“The DRI has seized a huge quantity of methamphetamine and arrested a person reportedly associated with TVK as an executive committee member. Our question is, what happened after a person was arrested in Ramanathapuram on July 31 last year and the district Superintendent of Police held a press conference? Twelve people were arrested, and for the first time in Tamil Nadu’s history, a lab was found operating in Ramanathapuram where methamphetamine was being manufactured…,” he told the media.
Another BJP leader advised Chief Minister Joseph Vijay to weed out people allegedly involved in drug peddling from his party before promising a drug-free Tamil Nadu. The leader also urged the Chief Minister to speak openly about the menace and the alleged involvement of TVK members.
போதைப்பொருள் கடத்தல் வழக்குகளில் அடுத்தடுத்து தவெக நிர்வாகிகளே சிக்குகிறார்கள்.
📌 June 9 – சேலம்: 12.5kg கஞ்சா பறிமுதல். தவெக நிர்வாகி உட்பட 6 பேர் கைது.
📌 August 27 – நாகப்பட்டினம்: 120kg கஞ்சா பறிமுதல். தவெக ஒன்றியச் செயலாளர் கைது.
📌 Oct 16 – நாகப்பட்டினம்: போதைப்பொருள்… pic.twitter.com/4ALzYNkPrK
— Selva Kumar (@Selvakumar_IN) October 18, 2026
DMK MP A. Raja also questioned the ruling party following the seizure.
“The Union government has seized 135 kg of methamphetamine worth around Rs 800–1,000 crore from an office-bearer of TVK, the party in power. Our doubt is not only whether the ruling party is a mute spectator, but also whether it is a party to it…,” he said.
Chennai, Tamil Nadu: On the seizure of 135 kg of methamphetamine from former TVK district executive committee member from Nagapattinam N. Boopalan, DMK MP A. Raja says, “The Union government has seized 135 kg of methamphetamine worth around Rs 800–1,000 crore from an… pic.twitter.com/rbUeFW3QfP
— IANS (@ians_india) October 17, 2026
DMK president M. K. Stalin said Bhoobalan, a TVK functionary from Nagapattinam district who served as the party’s election in-charge for the Kilvelur Assembly constituency, had been arrested by DRI officials. Stalin described the arrest as a major development.
A post attributed to the DMK IT wing claimed that a gang led by Bhoobalan had attempted to smuggle drugs to Sri Lanka by boat from Nagapattinam harbour. It also raised questions about the alleged role of people connected to the coastal transport route and referred to Minister Aadhav Arjuna.
நாகை துறைமுகம் மாநில அரசின் கட்டுப்பாட்டில் த.வெ.க அமைச்சர் ஆதவ் அர்ஜுனாவின் அதிகாரப் பிடியில் இருப்பதால் தான், அதே துறைமுகத்தைப் பயன்படுத்தி ஒரு த.வெ.க நிர்வாகியால் இவ்வளவு பெரிய கடத்தலை எப்படித் துணிச்சலாகத் திட்டமிட முடிந்ததா?
த.வெ.க நிர்வாகி பூபாலன், த.வெ.க அரசு பதவியேற்ற… pic.twitter.com/Njeb6uhy9q
— DMK IT WING (@DMKITwing) October 18, 2026
Demand for a wider financial investigation
The seizure has also prompted demands for a wider investigation into the suspected network’s financial resources, procurement channels and political connections.
A post on X called for investigators to identify everyone who had been in contact with Bhoobalan during the preceding five months, trace the source of the methamphetamine and examine the network’s financial resources. It also called for an Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation into possible money laundering under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
நாகையில் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்ட 137 கிலோ Crystal Meth தொடர்பாக @FinMinIndia -சார்பில்
அதிகாரப்பூர்வ அறிக்கை வெளியிடப்பட்டுள்ளதுதவெக நிர்வாகி பூபாலன் உள்ளிட்ட கும்பல் மாநில அரசின் கட்டுப்பாட்டில் உள்ள நாகை துறைமுகத்தில் இருந்து Boat மூலமாக நடுக்கடலில் இலங்கைக்கு போதைமருந்தை… https://t.co/iBfvYMogqN
— Aravindakshan B R (@RealAravind36) October 18, 2026
Another post claimed that Bhoobalan’s close aide, M. Sukumar, had contested the previous Assembly elections as a TVK candidate and received financial assistance from him. The post referred to cases allegedly faced by Sukumar, including criminal intimidation, causing loss to property and unlawful assembly, and called for his inclusion in the investigation.
தவெக நிர்வாகி பூபாலலின் நெருங்கிய கூட்டாளி M.சுகுமார். தவெக சார்பாக நாகைப்பட்டினம் சட்டமன்ற தொகுதியில் போட்டியிட்டவர் மேலும் தவெக வின் மாவட்ட கழக செயலாளர்.
அவர் மீது இருக்கும் வழக்குகளை பார்த்தால் தலையே சுத்துது.
இவரையும் விசாரணை வலையத்திற்குள் கொண்டு வருமா? @FinMinIndia… pic.twitter.com/0VLSYv7iPk
— Chegu Critic (@CheGuevaraOffi1) October 18, 2026
These claims require verification by the investigating agencies. The DRI’s reported seizure and arrests form the established enforcement action; allegations concerning additional political or financial links remain subject to investigation.
Earlier seizures and alleged links to drug networks
BJP functionary Selvakumar cited earlier drug seizures involving people described as TVK functionaries to question the state government’s response to narcotics trafficking.
He claimed that 12.5 kg of ganja was seized in June this year and six persons, including a TVK functionary, were arrested. He also referred to the seizure of 120 kg of ganja in August from a TVK panchayat-level functionary and the DRI’s October 16 seizure of 137 kg of methamphetamine allegedly linked to a TVK district executive council member.
“Will the CM open his mouth?” he asked.
போதைப்பொருள் கடத்தல் வழக்குகளில் அடுத்தடுத்து தவெக நிர்வாகிகளே சிக்குகிறார்கள்.
📌 June 9 – சேலம்: 12.5kg கஞ்சா பறிமுதல். தவெக நிர்வாகி உட்பட 6 பேர் கைது.
📌 August 27 – நாகப்பட்டினம்: 120kg கஞ்சா பறிமுதல். தவெக ஒன்றியச் செயலாளர் கைது.
📌 Oct 16 – நாகப்பட்டினம்: போதைப்பொருள்… pic.twitter.com/4ALzYNkPrK
— Selva Kumar (@Selvakumar_IN) October 18, 2026
According to sources, Bhoobalan, a Dalit advocate, primarily handled cases related to Sri Lankan refugees and appeared before courts in Nagapattinam and Vedaranyam. Sources said he had initially been associated with the DMK, later joined the VCK and subsequently moved to TVK.
Locals alleged that several youths from Yadav and other communities had been drawn into drug use or drug peddling through their association with Bhoobalan. They became addicted to drugs or were forced to work with him in drug peddling.
It is learnt that the suspected network had connections with drug operations in Bengaluru. According to the information cited in connection with the case, nine persons arrested earlier in Ramanathapuram had reportedly disclosed that Bhoobalan was procuring drugs from them.
Police had also found alleged methamphetamine manufacturing operations inside houses in Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram. The network reportedly procured raw materials from Nepal through northern Indian states before transporting them to Bengaluru. The Tamil Nadu gang was also alleged to have links with a Bengaluru drug cartel.
VHP raises questions over an earlier boat incident
A Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) functionary raised questions over an earlier incident involving a boat at Nagapattinam port.
According to the functionary, a boat operated by an overseas boatman arrived at the port about two months ago. The VHP handed the boatman and the vessel over to the Marine Police. Two Muslim advocates from Chennai subsequently arrived and claimed ownership of the boat, he alleged.
The functionary claimed that the matter was hushed up, leaving several questions unanswered. The circumstances of the incident and any connection, if one exists, with the present drug seizure require verification by the authorities.
