Two persons with pistols, ammunition, and methamphetamine held in Arumbakkam

Chennai Police arrest drug peddlers with weapons, drugs, and cash, leading to more arrests and ongoing investigations.

The Greater Chennai Police on Thursday arrested two drug peddlers, who had pistols, magazines, bullets, and methamphetamine in their possession.

On Tuesday, based on a tip-off, a special team of the Arumbakkam police mounted surveillance at a locality in Razak Garden. As three men were moving in a suspicious manner near a popular mobile showroom, the police nabbed the trio and questioned them. Upon searching their belongings, the police team seized 39.01 kg of ketamine worth around ₹3 crore, ₹51 lakh in cash, 105 g of gold jewellery, five mobile phones, two passports, two weighing machines, and three two-wheelers from them. The police arrested the trio, who were identified as V. Ganesan, 51, of Vyasarpadi, T. Madhan, 46, of Tiruvallur, and S. Ravi, 48, of Kodungaiyur.

Based on their confession, the police launched a search to nab two more men also involved in drug peddling. After investigating, the police on Thursday arrested S. Raja, 42, and Sathiya Seelan alias Sathish, 36. The police seized 1.4 kg of methamphetamine, five country-made pistols, 10 pistol magazines, 79 bullets, two weighing machines, two packing machines, five mobile phones, and a car from them.

The police said Ravi was involved in 25 cases of red sanders smuggling in Andhra Pradesh. His relatives and friends were working in illegal drug factories in Manipur. They coordinated with labs in Andhra Pradesh to source ketamine, which was shipped to the city via courier.

The police said another main suspect Raja was working as an electrician in the city and frequently sold electronic goods. During the course of this, he came into contact with another group. He and his driver Sathish later visited Raxaul in Bihar on the India-Nepal border and procured weapons and other ammunition to sell in Chennai. Investigation is under way to trace their supplier.