In a significant crackdown on drug trafficking, the Prohibition Enforcement Wing (PEW) of Trichy police seized a substantial quantity of cannabis and apprehended a suspect this past Saturday evening. The operation unfolded near Ramji Nagar, leading to the confiscation of the narcotic substance and the vehicle used for its transportation.
Acting on a Tip-Off: The Interception
Acting on specific intelligence regarding drug movement, a dedicated PEW team, under the leadership of Sub-Inspector Dhanalakshmi, had set up a vehicle check point near the K Kallikudi Panchayat office. Their vigilance paid off when an SUV approached the spot. The driver, identified as R Maruthu alias Venkateswaran, a 36-year-old resident of Punganur in Srirangam taluk, was subjected to a routine screening.
During a thorough inspection of the vehicle, the police team discovered and recovered 2 kilograms of ganja (cannabis). The suspect was immediately taken into custody. Following the due legal process, the authorities also confiscated the SUV that was used as a means for smuggling the illicit substance.
The Supply Chain and Police Surveillance
Investigations revealed that the seized narcotics were largely procured from established smuggling networks operating in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. According to the police, the consignment was intended for retail distribution in central Trichy and certain parts of the neighbouring Thanjavur district.
It was further disclosed that the arrested individual, Maruthu, had been under police surveillance for some time. He was known to frequently travel to Odisha to procure the drug. This arrest highlights the ongoing monitoring of suspected drug peddlers in the region.
Changing Smuggling Tactics and Enforcement Response
The police pointed out a notable shift in the modus operandi of smugglers. With the Railway Protection Force (RPF) intensifying screenings on trains arriving from other states, traffickers are increasingly turning to personal and private vehicles to transport contraband like ganja into the Trichy region. This case underscores the adaptability of law enforcement agencies in responding to these changing patterns of narcotics transportation.
This successful seizure and arrest demonstrate the continued efforts of the Trichy police to combat the drug trade and disrupt supply chains feeding into the local market. The operation serves as a warning to those involved in such illegal activities.
