Chennai Police Investigate Drug Connections in Kotturpuram Double Murder

Chennai, March 19 (NationPress) The Greater Chennai Police have initiated a detailed investigation into the drug network associated with ‘Sukku Kappi’ Suresh, the key suspect in the Kotturpuram double murder incident, along with his accomplices.

The case revolves around the gruesome killings of two history sheeters, Arun Kumar (25) and his associate Padappai Suresh (25), who were brutally murdered late on Sunday night (March 16).

On Tuesday, authorities apprehended five suspects and took two minors into custody in relation to the murders. The detained suspects include M. Suresh alias ‘Sukku Kappi’ Suresh (26) from Chengalpattu, V. Karan (21) from Kotturpuram, P. Rasukutty (19) from Vadapalani, A. Shanmugam (20) from Adambakkam, and P. Jeevan (19) from Red Hills. Additionally, two minors are being interrogated by the Kotturpuram Police.

As reported by police sources, the conflict between Arun Kumar and Suresh intensified due to the latter’s alleged involvement in drug trafficking, particularly regarding his suspected use of minors in the illegal trade.

Conflicts had been escalating for some time, leading to the tragic assault. Furthermore, Arun Kumar had expressed strong suspicions about Suresh’s involvement in the 2022 murder of his girlfriend, Shahinshah, a widow and mother of two, who was found strangled in her residence in Kelambakkam. Arun had sworn vengeance for her death, prompting Suresh to act preemptively.

In response, the Greater Chennai Police have ramped up their investigation into Suresh’s alleged drug operations. This follows significant methamphetamine seizures in the city, as well as a broader crackdown on organized drug syndicates.

Since M. Arun took over as Greater Chennai Police Commissioner, law enforcement has been aggressively targeting criminal gangs and drug trafficking networks. In November 2024, the Chennai Police apprehended Philip, a Nigerian national believed to be the mastermind behind a cartel smuggling methamphetamine into Tamil Nadu. To date, twelve individuals have been arrested in relation to this case.

Police sources indicate that Philip confessed to coordinating methamphetamine imports from Nigeria using air and courier services. Investigations have revealed a sophisticated smuggling route, with methamphetamine being transported from Manipur — where it is priced between Rs 50,000 to Rs 1,00,000 per kilogram — to Chennai, where it can sell for as much as Rs 7 lakh per kg. In the international market, particularly in Sri Lanka and Australia, prices can soar to several crores.

According to sources from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), methamphetamine enters India through the India-Myanmar border near Moreh, Manipur, before being transported to Tamil Nadu.

The drugs are then hidden in vehicles and sent to coastal towns like Rameswaram, Thoothukudi, and Nagapattinam. From these locations, local fishing boats transport the contraband mid-sea to Sri Lanka.

Investigators have discovered significant links between Moreh and Chennai’s Red Hills area, highlighting the extensive drug syndicate operating locally. As part of the ongoing investigation, the Chennai Police are now determining whether ‘Sukku Kappi’ Suresh and his associates were directly involved in the larger drug network.

The detention of two minors raises alarms regarding Suresh’s potential recruitment of young boys for drug trafficking. Given that Arun Kumar and his brother Arjunan had previously confronted Suresh regarding his illegal dealings with minors, the police are delving deeper into Suresh’s operations to reveal the full scale of his criminal enterprise.