In a major haul, the city police on Thursday seized 35 kg of ganja, suspected to have been smuggled from Andhra Pradesh, and arrested three persons from Usilampatti.
The accused, K. Sivamalar (40) of Vagaikulam, M. Andichamy (37) of Nattarmangalam and V.R. Pandi (44) of Karumathur, were remanded to judicial custody.
Acting on a tipoff that the narcotics substance was being smuggled from the Periyar Bus Stand, the Karimedu Inspector of Police, V. Seetharaman, led a team for conducting a vehicle check in the city.
They intercepted an autorickshaw in which they found four bags. Upon checking the bags, the police found 35 kg of ganja, packed in 15 bundles, hidden among dress materials. “The accused were very unsuspicious and the bags gave them a look as if they were ordinary passengers carrying dresses,” Mr. Seetharaman, said.
The accused revealed that they had bought it from Andhra Pradesh. Andichamy and Sivamalar are habitual offenders, the police said.