In a well-planned operation, sleuths of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) Chennai Zone seized 36 kg of methamphetamine, worth around ₹180 crore, at Madurai Junction and the Kondungaiyur dump in Chennai on Friday, February 29, 2024.
Acting on information that a passenger, travelling on Pothigai Express to Madurai from Chennai on Thursday would carry narcotic substances, DRI sleuths staked out Madurai Junction when the train reached there on Friday. They intercepted the suspect with the assistance of the Railway Protection Force.
Examining his baggage, they found 15 packets, weighing 30 kg, of coloured crystal substance. A chemical analysis confirmed that it was methamphetamine, the DRI said in a statement. On interrogation, he revealed that some more methamphetamine packets were kept at his home in Chennai.
In a swift follow-up, the officials searched his home and the investigation revealed that his wife had thrown away the packets in the dustbin and the garbage had already been taken to the Kondungaiyur dump.
A DRI team went to the dump and, after an extensive search, recovered 3 packets, weighing 6 kg, containing white-coloured crystal substance, which was proved to be methamphetamine. The international market value of the substance seized is around ₹180 crore, the statement said.
The DRI learnt from preliminary investigation that he was carrying the contraband for transport to Sri Lanka through the coastal route. The passenger and his wife have been detained and further investigation is under way.
This is the second seizure of the drug in the city this month, after the Madurai City Police seized over 800 grams of methamphetamine from a house in K.K. Nagar last week.
