CHENNAI: Customs officials at Chennai Airport made a significant drug seizure on January 30, 2025, apprehending three Indian passengers involved in smuggling hydroponic ganja valued at ₹23.5 crore. Acting on intelligence received beforehand, air customs officers undertook thorough checks on incoming travelers from Thailand, leading to the interception of the suspects who displayed nervous behavior during questioning.
According to reports by Thanthi TV, the three individuals arrested, one of whom was a woman, had traveled to Thailand on tourist visas. Their apprehension came late at night when customs officers became suspicious of their furtive mannerisms. Upon conducting a systematic search of their luggage, officials discovered 24 packets of hydroponic ganja, totaling 23.48 kilograms.
The hydroponic ganja is cultivated with water as the central medium and is commonly marketed under various names, such as OG, sugarcone, and kush. This seizure has emphasized Chennai's rising profile as a key transit point for international drug syndicates.
Preliminary investigations indicate the accused were functioning as 'kuruvis' or drug couriers, tasked with transporting the illicit cargo back to Chennai. Officials are now seeking to identify the figure orchestrated their trip to Thailand as part of larger smuggling networks.
Chennai has increasingly been cited as the entry point for various banned substances, particularly those trafficked from Southeast Asia. Tamil Nadu has emerged as more than just a transit hub but effectively serves as ground zero for international drug distribution. Banned drugs like methamphetamine and its precursor pseudoephedrine are frequently smuggled to nations like Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Australia, where they are met with high demand.
Echoing the concerns of law enforcement, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) reported extensive seizures of methamphetamine, amounting to approximately ₹380 crore earlier this year. These substances are frequently sourced from Myanmar, with drugs being funneled through India and eventually shipped to various international markets.
Evidence suggests the primary route involves illicit shipments moved from Myanmar to Manipur, with human couriers carrying them to Tamil Nadu. En route, these drugs are often concealed within vehicles before being transported to coastal towns, including Rameswaram, Thoothukudi, and Nagapattinam. Once they reach the coast, smugglers reportedly transfer these drugs to local fishing boats, shipping them mid-sea to Sri Lanka—a clear indication of the region’s vulnerabilities due to poorly monitored maritime borders.
Counter-narcotics investigations have recognized Moreh, close to the India-Myanmar border, as pivotal for these smuggling operations. There are significant links purportedly between the Tamil communities based there and areas like Chennai’s Red Hills, which appear groomed by drug syndicates.
The presence of remnants from the banned Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) engaging with the drug trade has added layers of complexity to the smuggling dilemma. Security agencies have detained known operatives involved with arms and drug trafficking along Tamil Nadu's waters, but even as the LTTE is no longer active, fears linger about its operatives collaborating with drug cartels to facilitate smuggling. Investigators have noted attempts to connect the dots between such syndicates and increasing trafficking of methamphetamine.
This current operation at Chennai Airport serves as a stark reminder of the deepening drug smuggling crisis facing Tamil Nadu. The authorities remain on high alert, with comprehensive measures employed to disrupt these operations. Both state officials and interdiction agencies are under pressure to bolster counter-narcotic efforts amid growing awareness of the region's reputation as both a drug transit and consumption point.
While legal challenges lie ahead for the apprehended individuals, with investigations set to reveal the full scale of the smuggling operation they were allegedly part of, it is clear the international drug trade has definable bayous flowing from Southeast Asia right to India. This vast network continues to complicate law enforcement's battle against narcotics, demanding concerted and unwavering efforts to tackle these illicit activities.