DRI Seizes ₹180 Crore Worth of Methamphetamine En Route to Sri Lanka, Couple Detained

GG News Bureau
Chennai, 2nd March. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized narcotics drug methamphetamine valued at ₹180 crore, intended for transport to Sri Lanka. The bust, comprising 36 kg of the highly addictive substance, involved the detainment of a man and his wife in connection with the seizures in Madurai and Chennai.

According to the DRI, the meticulously planned operation led to the recovery of 30 kg of methamphetamine from a rail passenger at Madurai railway station and an additional 6 kg from the Kodungaiyur dump yard in Chennai.

Methamphetamine, also known as “ice” or “crystal meth,” is a potent psychostimulant drug with addictive properties similar to cocaine, posing severe health risks.

The DRI’s Chennai Zone officials, acting on intelligence, apprehended the suspect aboard the Madurai-bound Pothigai Express from Chennai. Upon interception, 15 packets containing the contraband were seized from his possession.

Further investigations led authorities to the suspect’s residence in Chennai, where his wife had disposed of additional methamphetamine packets in the dustbin. A subsequent search at the Kodungaiyur dump yard resulted in the recovery of three more packets of the illicit substance.

Preliminary inquiries revealed that the detained individual intended to transport the contraband to Sri Lanka via the coastal route. The couple remains in custody as investigations continue.

This significant seizure marks a crucial intervention in curbing drug trafficking, particularly in Tamil Nadu, where recent incidents have raised concerns about the proliferation of narcotics. Political figures, including AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami and BJP state chief K Annamalai, have condemned the prevalence of drug-related activities, urging swift action to combat the menace and safeguard the state’s future generations.