The Narcotic Enforcement Squad seized 50 kg of cannabis from a car at Chempakapara here on Monday night. One person was arrested in connection with the seizure.
This was one of the largest ganja seizures in recent times. The ganja was found packed in two-kg bundles of jute sacks hidden in the car. The car was intercepted after a tip-off in this regard. The arrested has been identified as Reji, a resident of Upputhodu.
However, two others Shaji and Suneesh, residents of Chempakapara, ran way under the cover of darkness. Excise Deputy Commissioner K.A. Nelson told The Hindu that a search was on to arrest them.
A senior excise official said that Shaji was the kingpin of a major ganja lobby and he employed youths to engage in ganja cultivation on Odhisa and Andhra Pradesh borders. There is information that large quantities were stocked at Cumbom and Theni to be moved to the district. The official said that after moving ganja to Tamil Nadu, porous routes once used for smuggling cardamom were being used to bring ganja to the district. Tamil Nadu workers were engaged in carrying ganja on head through the narrow hilly path that included Thevarammettu and Chathurangapara. Many youths from Rajakkad and Chempakapara areas were employed to work on the ganja fields in Odhisa and Andhra Pradesh borders, the official said.
After six months of its growth, ganja is collected and carried to Tamil Nadu border. From the High Ranges, it reaches various destinations in the State.
On June 8, Excise officials had arrested one person and seized 11 kg of hashish oil. This seizure is believed to have a link with Monday’s arrest.
A major factor is that the High Ranges are becoming a haven for the narcotic byproduct hashish oil. Unlike ganja, it is not easy to be noticed while transporting and it has good international market.
Ganja found packed in two-kg jute sacks
High ranges are becoming a haven for hashish oil
