Intensified Action Against Bars and Luxury Hotels in Tamil Nadu Drug Case
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Synopsis
Chennai Police have initiated a serious crackdown on bars and luxury hotels following reports of cocaine distribution. A special team has arrested 18 individuals linked to this illicit activity, uncovering a network involving a Nigerian supplier. Further operations are planned to combat drug trafficking in the region.
Key Takeaways
- Chennai Police are targeting bars and hotels involved in drug distribution.
- 18 arrests made, including bar managers and DJs.
- Nigerian national identified as cocaine supplier.
- Ongoing operations to combat methamphetamine trafficking.
- Authorities monitoring gyms for drug use related to workouts.
Chennai, Feb 27 (NationPress) The Greater Chennai Police have initiated a crackdown on key bars and luxury hotels in the city based on intelligence reports suggesting that several venues were distributing cocaine to patrons.
A dedicated team from the Chennai Police’s Anti-Narcotics Intelligence Unit (ANIU) has been formed to spearhead this operation. To date, authorities have apprehended 18 individuals, including bar managers and DJs.
During questioning, the detained suspects disclosed that a Nigerian national, Eko Nathanial Chibuzor, was the source of cocaine supplied to a range of bars in Chennai.
Chibuzor was captured in a hideout in Mumbai on Wednesday. He is currently being transported to Chennai and will face a magistrate court today.
Insider sources from the special police team indicated that additional crackdowns would commence today, with City Police Commissioner M. Arun personally supervising the operations. So far, police have seized 60 grams of cocaine, 1.7 kg of ganja, 2 grams of ganja oil, 4 grams of OG ganja, 16 mobile devices, three two-wheelers, three vehicles, and two weighing scales from those arrested.
An official announcement from the Chennai Police on Wednesday affirmed that ANIU teams have been surveilling bars, pubs, and star hotels to identify and prevent illegal activities. Since the first arrest on January 25, the police have made 18 arrests and issued warnings to bar and hotel managers, urging them to refrain from illegal practices.
The Tamil Nadu Police have also stepped up efforts against the trafficking and use of methamphetamine, launching statewide operations to mitigate its spread.
This enforcement initiative comes in the wake of numerous arrests in both urban and rural areas, where individuals were apprehended for attempting to sell this highly addictive drug—even to school students. In reaction, Director General of Police (DGP) Sankar Jiwal has mandated all district police superintendents to establish and personally oversee special teams that target drug networks.
Law enforcement agencies are also diligently monitoring gyms and health clubs, where the usage of methamphetamine has reportedly become a significant issue. Recent arrests suggest that several gym attendees were acquiring the drug to alleviate muscle pain from strenuous workouts.
Tamil Nadu has positioned itself as a primary transit point for international drug syndicates smuggling methamphetamine and its precursor, pseudoephedrine, to nations such as Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Australia, where demand is substantial.
In 2024 alone, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) confiscated methamphetamine valued at approximately Rs 380 crore. Officials suspect that these drugs originated from Myanmar and were being trafficked to Sri Lanka. In November 2024, Chennai Police detained a Nigerian national, Philip, who is believed to be the mastermind behind a significant smuggling operation. Philip allegedly facilitated the importation of methamphetamine from Nigeria utilizing courier and air transport routes.
