In a significant crackdown, the Nagapattinam district police successfully thwarted a major attempt to smuggle a large consignment of narcotics to Sri Lanka. The operation, which culminated in a dramatic chase, led to the seizure of approximately 220 kilograms of ganja and the arrest of one suspect.
Dramatic Chase Leads to Crash and Arrest
The incident unfolded on Friday night near the Pudupalli bridge in the Vedaranyam area. Officers were conducting routine vehicle checks when they noticed a suspicious car approaching. Upon being signalled to stop, the driver instead accelerated and sped past the checkpoint.
Acting swiftly, the police team gave chase. The pursuit ended when the fleeing vehicle veered off the road and crashed into a roadside channel. The occupants then abandoned the car and attempted to escape on foot. The police managed to apprehend one of the individuals after a brief chase.
Interrogation Reveals Smuggling Racket
The arrested man was identified as B Manikandan, a 23-year-old resident of Madurai district. A thorough search of the abandoned car revealed the massive haul of around 220kg of ganja carefully concealed inside.
During interrogation, Manikandan confessed to his involvement in the smuggling operation. He revealed that he was working with another individual, S Thangamuthu, also from Madurai, who managed to evade capture during the incident. Preliminary investigations indicate that the contraband was being transported to the Vedaranyam coast with the intention of smuggling it to Sri Lanka by sea.
Car Hired from Ex-Serviceman, Search for Accomplices On
Police sources disclosed that the car used in the smuggling attempt was hired by Thangamuthu from A Akbar Ali, a Madurai resident who was previously dismissed from the armed forces. The vehicle has been recovered and the ganja seized as evidence.
A case has been registered at the Vettaikkaraniruppu police station under the relevant sections of the stringent Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Police teams are actively conducting raids to locate and arrest Thangamuthu and other suspects believed to be part of the smuggling racket.
Police Personnel Felicitated for Vigilance
In recognition of their alertness and action, Central Zone Inspector General of Police V Balakrishnan felicitated the officers involved on Saturday. Head Constable G Karthikeyan and Constable V Thiyagesh were honoured at the IG's office in Trichy for their crucial role in intercepting the smuggling attempt. Balakrishnan has also directed the Nagapattinam district police to strengthen measures to prevent such contraband smuggling activities in the future.
