In a significant crackdown on narcotics trade targeting educational institutions, the Saravanampatti police in Coimbatore have apprehended five young men accused of distributing LSD stamps, a potent synthetic drug, to college students across the city.
The Arrests and Those Involved
The police have identified the arrested individuals as S Pranesh (20) from Vadavalli, R Revanth (23) from Ganapathy, J Felix Pradeep (25) from Rathinapuri, Hari Prasath (20) from Maniyakarampalayam, and Varshath (22) from Palladam. The operation unfolded over two days, leading to the seizure of a total of 51 LSD stamps with a combined weight of approximately 700 milligrams.
How the Drug Racket Was Uncovered
The breakthrough came on Sunday night during a routine patrol by beat officers from the Saravanampatti police station. The officials found Pranesh, Revanth, and Felix consuming alcohol on an isolated plot of land. Upon interrogation, the police discovered LSD stamps in their possession.
After recording their mobile numbers and addresses, the officers instructed the trio to report to the police station on Monday morning. A subsequent forensic examination confirmed the seized items to be LSD, a synthetic hallucinogen. Following their arrest on Monday, a deeper investigation revealed the involvement of two more accomplices, Hari Prasath and Varshath, who were also taken into custody the same day.
Links to a Notorious Peddler and Modus Operandi
Police investigation uncovered a direct link to a known criminal. According to a senior police officer, history-sheeter V Amarnath, who was recently jailed for drug peddling, had supplied the LSD stamps to Pranesh for sale before his incarceration.
The officer stated, "Pranesh and the others were actively peddling the LSD stamps to college students in the city. They were selling each stamp for between Rs 1,500 and Rs 3,000." This pricing indicates the high-value, low-volume nature of the synthetic drug trade, specifically targeting a vulnerable student demographic.
The arrests highlight the ongoing efforts by Coimbatore police to combat the menace of synthetic drugs infiltrating educational campuses and serve as a stern warning to those involved in such illicit activities.
