Namakkal: In a significant crackdown on drug trafficking, six individuals were arrested near the Cauvery RS Junction in Namakkal district on Saturday night for attempting to smuggle ganja on a train. The police seized 12 kilograms of ganja, valued at approximately Rs 6 lakh, from the accused.
Details of the Arrest
The arrested individuals have been identified as Karnan (21), Kavinkumar (25), Bhupathi (21), Pavithran (27), Subramani (22), and Sasikumar (30), all residents of Avarangadu in Pallipalayam. They were apprehended after Pallipalayam police received confidential information that a group of youths was smuggling ganja from Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh to Erode railway junction via train.
Acting on orders from Pallipalayam DSP Gauthaman, a special police force led by Pallipalayam police sub-inspector Ranjith Kumar conducted intensive surveillance at the Cauvery RS Railway Junction.
How the Operation Unfolded
During the operation, police personnel noticed three passengers throwing a packet out of a train when it slowed down. 'Three others came and tried to take it away, but police personnel surrounded and arrested them,' an officer explained. He added that the three individuals who were on the train were also subsequently arrested and brought to the police station for questioning.
Modus Operandi Revealed
Preliminary investigation revealed that the gang routinely purchased ganja at wholesale prices from Andhra Pradesh, smuggled it by train, and transported it to Namakkal, Erode, and various other districts for sale. Police noted that since Erode Railway Junction is one kilometer away from Cauvery RS station, trains arriving at Erode railway station often stop in this area or move slowly. 'Taking advantage of this, ganja-selling gangs chose this place for their smuggling operations,' the officer stated.
Legal Proceedings
All six accused were produced before the Kumarapalayam court and subsequently remanded in Salem prison on Sunday.
