Chennai: In the second major crackdown within two weeks, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), in coordination with the Telangana police, foiled another attempt to smuggle 465 kilograms of ganja valued at ₹2.32 crore from Odisha to Tamil Nadu. Two key operatives have been arrested in connection with the operation.
Details of the Seizure
NCB sleuths from the Chennai zone intercepted a container truck at Nallur plaza in Tiruvallur on Tuesday. The contraband was cleverly concealed in a custom-built false ceiling and in cavities at the bottom of the vehicle. The two arrested individuals are natives of Odisha and Bihar. Authorities have launched a hunt for the network's mastermind and the vehicle owner, who have been traced to Odisha.
Trafficking Route and Investigation
According to NCB officials, the ganja was trafficked from Malkangiri in Odisha and was intended to be delivered to a receiver based in Madurai. A thorough investigation is underway to identify the remaining members of the syndicate, trace financial transactions, and dismantle the interstate network involved in this illegal operation.
Previous Seizures and Statistics
This seizure follows a similar operation on May 1, when an NCB team seized 717 kilograms of ganja and a container truck from a gang of four individuals in Tuticorin, leading to their arrest. So far this year, the NCB Chennai zone has seized approximately 2,892.35 kilograms of ganja, 87.64 kilograms of hashish oil, and 1.045 kilograms of amphetamine, with a total estimated value of ₹21.1 crore. In connection with these seizures, 14 individuals have been arrested.
The NCB continues to intensify its efforts to curb drug trafficking in the region, focusing on interstate networks and financial investigations to disrupt the supply chain.
