CHENNAI: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has busted an attempt to smuggle 200 kg of ganja worth more than Rs 1 crore from Odisha into Tamil Nadu by arresting six people, including a double-murder accused and gangster’s aide hailing from Tirupur.The vehicle carrying the contraband was intercepted at Nallur toll plaza in Tiruvallur district on the outskirts of Chennai on Sunday, based on information and in close coordination with Telangana police. At least 10 bundles of ganja hidden among other goods were recovered, and five people were arrested. Inquiries led to the arrest of key accused Nagalingam alias Raghu, who was to receive the contraband from the transporters in Coimbatore.Withholding the identity of the other accused for investigation reasons, NCB said that the key accused Nagendran alias Raghu was part of Madurai-based gangster Vellakali’s group. “Raghu is an accused in a double murder case registered in Virudhunagar district in 2022, in which a warrant of arrest is pending against him. He also has an Arms Act case registered in Madurai in 2024 and has recently been named in an NDPS case registered in Karur in 2025,” said an NCB officer.All the six people have been remanded in judicial custody, and further investigation is under way to identify the remaining members of the syndicate, trace financial transactions.NCB Chennai has seized around 1,703.35 kg of ganja, 87.64 kg of hashish oil and 1.045 kg of amphetamine and arrested 14 suspects so far this year. The total estimated value of these seized drugs is approximately Rs 15.15 crore.
