NCB seizes 200 kg ganja worth ₹1 crore, arrests 6 in Chennai interstate bust
Synopsis
NCB officers intercepted a vehicle at a Chennai toll plaza carrying 200 kg of ganja from Odisha, unravelling a syndicate tied to a Madurai gangster. The alleged kingpin — already wanted in a 2022 double murder — was tracked down separately, exposing the multi-state reach of the network.
Key Takeaways
NCB seized 200 kg of ganja worth over ₹1 crore at the Nallur toll plaza , Tiruvallur district , near Chennai.
Six persons arrested, including alleged kingpin Nagalingam alias Raghu , linked to Madurai -based gangster Vellakali .
Raghu is a named accused in a 2022 double murder in Virudhunagar, an Arms Act case in Madurai ( 2024 ), and an NDPS Act case in Karur ( 2025 ).
The ganja was being transported from Odisha to Tamil Nadu and was destined for Coimbatore .
NCB Chennai zone has seized narcotics worth ₹15.15 crore and arrested 14 suspects in total so far in 2025 .
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has dismantled an interstate drug smuggling network, seizing 200 kg of ganja valued at over ₹1 crore and arresting six persons — including a double-murder accused and an alleged associate of a Madurai-based gangster. The contraband was intercepted at the Nallur toll plaza in Tiruvallur district, on the outskirts of Chennai, on Sunday.
How the Bust Unfolded
Acting on specific intelligence inputs and in coordination with the Telangana Police, NCB officials intercepted the vehicle as it was being transported from Odisha into Tamil Nadu. A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of at least 10 bundles of ganja that had been cleverly concealed among other goods to evade detection.
Five individuals travelling in the vehicle were taken into custody on the spot. Subsequent interrogation of the arrested suspects led investigators to the alleged kingpin, identified as Nagalingam alias Raghu, who was apprehended separately. According to NCB officials, Raghu was reportedly the intended recipient of the consignment in Coimbatore.
Who Is the Alleged Kingpin
Authorities said Raghu is believed to be associated with a criminal network linked to a Madurai-based gangster known as Vellakali. His criminal record is extensive: he is an accused in a double murder case registered in Virudhunagar district in 2022, for which an arrest warrant remains pending. He also faces a case under the Arms Act registered in Madurai in 2024, and was recently named in a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in Karur in 2025.
The identities of the remaining five accused have been withheld for investigative purposes. All six individuals have been remanded in judicial custody.
NCB Chennai Zone's Enforcement Record in 2025
The NCB said further investigation is underway to identify other members of the inter-state drug syndicate and to trace the financial transactions linked to the operation. The NCB Chennai zone stated it has seized approximately 1,703.35 kg of ganja, 87.64 kg of hashish oil, and 1.045 kg of amphetamine so far this year, with a total of 14 suspects arrested across related cases. The estimated value of all narcotics seized this year stands at around ₹15.15 crore.
What Happens Next
Investigators are now working to map the broader syndicate's supply chain, which allegedly originates in Odisha and routes through multiple states before reaching Tamil Nadu. The Odisha-to-Tamil Nadu ganja corridor has been flagged repeatedly by central agencies as a persistent trafficking route, making this seizure part of a larger, ongoing enforcement challenge.
Point of View
Yet the route remains operational. What stands out here is the profile of the alleged kingpin: a man wanted in a double murder, facing arms charges, and now a narcotics case, who was still reportedly running a consignment network. This points less to an intelligence failure and more to a systemic gap in inter-agency warrant execution. The NCB's 2025 tally of ₹15.15 crore in seizures is notable, but the real metric is prosecutions — how many of the 14 arrested this year will face conviction, and how quickly courts move on cases involving repeat offenders with pending warrants.
NationPress
9 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the NCB seize in the Chennai drug bust?
The NCB seized 200 kg of ganja valued at over ₹1 crore, concealed in a vehicle intercepted at the Nallur toll plaza in Tiruvallur district near Chennai. The contraband was being transported from Odisha into Tamil Nadu.
Who is Nagalingam alias Raghu?
Nagalingam alias Raghu is the alleged kingpin of the drug consignment, reportedly linked to Madurai-based gangster Vellakali. He is a named accused in a 2022 double murder case in Virudhunagar, an Arms Act case in Madurai (2024), and an NDPS Act case in Karur (2025).
How many people were arrested in the NCB Chennai drug bust?
Six persons were arrested in total — five were apprehended at the Nallur toll plaza, and the alleged kingpin Raghu was tracked down and arrested separately following interrogation of the initial five.
What is NCB Chennai zone's enforcement record in 2025?
As of the latest update, NCB Chennai zone has seized approximately 1,703.35 kg of ganja, 87.64 kg of hashish oil, and 1.045 kg of amphetamine in 2025, with total narcotics valued at around ₹15.15 crore and 14 suspects arrested.
What is the current status of the six arrested accused?
All six individuals have been remanded in judicial custody. Investigation is ongoing to identify other members of the inter-state syndicate and trace financial transactions linked to the drug network.
