Hydroponic Ganja Worth Rs 23.5 Crore Seized at Chennai Airport; Three Arrested
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Synopsis
On January 29, Customs officials at Chennai Airport seized hydroponic ganja valued at Rs 23.5 crore and arrested three suspects. The contraband was smuggled from Thailand within soft drink powder packets, highlighting Tamil Nadu's role as a key transit hub for international drug trafficking.
Key Takeaways
- Rs 23.5 crore worth hydroponic ganja seized.
- Three individuals arrested in connection to the smuggling.
- Drug concealed in soft drink powder packets.
- Tamil Nadu as a significant transit hub for drug syndicates.
- Evidence of links to international drug trafficking networks.
Chennai, Jan 29 (NationPress) Customs officials successfully confiscated hydroponic ganja worth Rs 23.5 crore at Chennai Airport on Wednesday and apprehended three individuals linked to the incident.
The illegal substance was reportedly smuggled from Thailand, cleverly hidden within packets of soft drink powder.
Sources reveal that hydroponic ganja, cultivated predominantly in water, is recognized by various street names, including OG, sugarcone, and Kush.
Over recent years, Tamil Nadu has emerged as a significant transit point for global drug trafficking organizations, with controlled substances like methamphetamine and its precursor, pseudoephedrine, being illicitly sent to high-demand markets in Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Australia.
In 2024, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) reported the seizure of methamphetamine valued at approximately Rs 380 crore.
Intelligence reports indicate that a large fraction of these narcotics is sourced from Myanmar and subsequently trafficked to Sri Lanka.
On November 17, 2024, local law enforcement apprehended a Nigerian national named Philip, who is suspected of orchestrating a cartel involved in the smuggling of methamphetamine into Tamil Nadu for distribution.
The Arumbakkam police have arrested twelve individuals in connection with this ongoing investigation.
The street price for this drug ranges from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1,00,000 per kilogram in Manipur, while it can fetch up to Rs 7 lakh per kilogram in Chennai. Internationally, in markets like Sri Lanka and Australia, its value can soar to several crores.
According to NCB insights, the main smuggling route involves transporting methamphetamine from Myanmar across the India-Myanmar border into Manipur.
From there, it is carried by human couriers on trains to Tamil Nadu, where it is hidden in vehicles and transported to coastal areas such as Rameswaram, Thoothukudi, and Nagapattinam. Upon reaching the coast, the drugs are loaded onto local fishing vessels and moved mid-sea to Sri Lanka through Tamil Nadu's vulnerable maritime border, as reported by NCB sources.
Investigations have pinpointed Moreh, a town in Manipur near the India-Myanmar border, as a crucial transit location.
The Tamil community residing in Moreh is believed to have connections with the Red Hills area in Chennai, further highlighting the extensive network of the drug syndicate.
Authorities have also discovered indications that remnants of the banned Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) may still be secretly operating in regions of Tamil Nadu.
In October 2021, former LTTE operative Satkunam alias Sabesan was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for his role in arms and drug trafficking from Pakistan to Sri Lanka.
Despite the LTTE's disbandment for years, security agencies suspect that its well-trained ex-members are involved in mid-sea smuggling activities, aiding the transit of narcotics from Tamil Nadu to Sri Lanka and further to Malaysia and Australia.
