Ketamine ring bust: Chennai police arrest two more men, seize guns and bullets
The drug trafficking suspects, Perumbakkam Raja and Sathiyaseelan, were arrested during the operation.
Accused Sathyaseelan and Raja (L to R)
CHENNAI: Investigation into the seizure of a whopping 38 kg of ketamine from a gang of drug smugglers in the city has led a team from the Greater Chennai City Police into a new direction after they nabbed two more people, said to be part of the same narcotics trafficking ring, with guns and bullets.
After arresting the two persons, identified as Raja and Sathiyaseelan, in connection with a ketamine seizure case in the city, the police found as many as five guns, 79 bullets, and 10 pistol magazines. Besides these firearms, the officials also seized 1.4 kg of ketamine, weighing machines, and a car.
The gang was busted after the Anti-Narcotic Intelligence Unit officials received a specific tipoff about a ketamine smuggling syndicate in Chennai that is hoarding ketamine sourced from other states. Following this, they kept vigil and secured them.
On Tuesday, the city police busted the gang from whom they seized 38 kg of the drug. The seized quantum of the drug is estimated to be worth Rs three crore. The arrested men were identified as S Ravi (48) of Kodungaiyur, T Madhan (46) of Tiruvallur, and V Ganesan (51) of Vyasarpadi.
Apart from ketamine, the police also seized Rs 51 lakh in cash, gold jewels weighing 105 gram, and two passports from the accused on Tuesday.
Immediately after their partners in crime were nabbed, Raja and Sathiyaseelan went underground to evade arrest.
Preliminary inquiries revealed that Ravi, Ganesh, and Madhan are Burma repatriates who are settled in Chennai and Tiruvallur. Ravi is allegedly involved in more than 25 red sanders smuggling cases reported in Andhra Pradesh.
All three had spent seven years in prisons in Punjab and Haryana. After their release and with the help of new friendships forged in prison, they got back into business.
It was also revealed that the accused were in contact with a major supplier in Andhra Pradesh who was arrested by the Chennai Police for methamphetamine possession in October last year.
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