220 kg of ganja seized in Kovai, two men arrested

According to police, a team led by Peelamedu Inspector Selvaraj was involved in a vehicle check when they intercepted a jeep with Andhra Pradesh registration and its number plates blackened with ink.

As the two men in the jeep gave contradictory statements and appeared suspicious, police carried out a check, they found ganja packets, each weighing 2 kg, in the vehicle.

They found as much as 220 kg of ganja.

Police identified the two persons as Vanaraj, 45, of Moolakadai in Andipatti and Murugan, 44, of Kambam. Inquiries revealed that they had bought the contraband from Andhra Pradesh for Rs 2,500 per kg for supply in Coimbatore for Rs 10,000 per kg. It was also found that the jeep had a fake registration number.

Police seized the jeep and ganja and produced the two men before the Judicial Magistrate. They were sent to jail. In all the recent major seizures, police found the smugglers had bought ganja from Andhra Pradesh.

In March, police seized about 216 kg of ganja from four men, including two brothers, who were found smuggling the narcotic from Andhra Pradesh to supply local consumers. Last month, about 35 kg of ganja was seized from a man, a native of Sivaganga district.

Police said a probe was under way to bust the network of peddlers involved in the racket.