Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Hindu
The Hindu
National
R. Sivaraman

Narcotics Control Bureau busts international drug syndicate, seizes 15.8 kg of methamphetamine, and arrests 8 persons

In a joint operation, officers of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) of the Chennai, Bengaluru, and Imphal zones busted an international drug syndicate, which was trafficking methamphetamine from Myanmar to Sri Lanka via Manipur, Guwahati, and Chennai. They have arrested eight men and seized 15.8 kg of the drug from them.

On December 21, 2023, NCB officers of Chennai zone seized 4.8 kg of methamphetamine and arrested four persons, including a woman, in Chennai. The suspects were identified as Chinthamani, Veera Selvam alias Selvam, Saravanan, and Joseph Justine Paul. Upon interrogation, the officers found that they sourced and smuggled the contraband from Moreh in Manipur.

Also Read | NCB busts international drug syndicate, arrests 7 persons, including six Nigerian nationals

A joint team was formed under P. Aravindhan, Zonal Director of NCB, Chennai, comprising officers of the Chennai and Bengaluru zones. The team conducted discreet surveillance in Imphal for three days.

On December 28, three persons, including the supplier from Moreh, were intercepted near a hotel in Imphal and 11 kg of methamphetamine was seized from their car. Following up on the case, with the assistance of officers from NCB, Imphal zone, a financier handling the hawala transactions was intercepted and ₹10 lakh in cash was seized from him. Two accounts handling the drug money, with ₹36 lakh and ₹42.66 lakh respectively, were identified and frozen. The suspects – Kalaimani, ⁠Reena, Roshan Kumar, and Ravi – were brought to Chennai and arrested.

Also Read | Narcotics Control Bureau busts international drug syndicate; cocaine worth ₹15 crore seized, two foreigners held

Mr. Aravindhan said the investigation revealed that the contraband was smuggled from Tamu in Myanmar. They were concealed in tea packets and brought to Moreh. From there, the drugs were smuggled to Sri Lanka via Imphal, Guwahati, and Chennai.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.