Gang of drug peddlers busted in Chennai

The police recovered 20 kg of ganja from the house of the main suspect, a 50-year-old woman, in Sholavaram

A gang of four drug peddlers led by a 50-year-old woman was arrested on Saturday in Sholavaram, about 24 kms from Chennai.

The police recovered 20 kg of ganja from the woman’s house on 11 Street, Bala Ganesh Nagar in Attanthangal village near Sholavaram.

Saturday’s seizure, the police said, was the first major instance in recent times, on the stretch of GNT Road beyond Puzhal.

Based on specific information, a police team conducted a surprise check at the residences of the suspected drug peddlers including the main suspect, K. Valliammal (50), around 3 a.m. on Saturday. They found about 20 kg of ganja packed in a gunny bag.

A preliminary investigation revealed Valliammal, a wholesale dealer of ganja in the neighbourhood, had involved her children – K. Parvathi (35) and K. Ravi (30) — and a relative, S. Kala (55), a native of Vellore, in the business for the past five years.

A police source said Valliammal sourced the contraband from her agents in Vijayawada and transported it by road. The agents delivered the consignments in gunny bags in Gummudipoondi to Valliammal.

She then distributed the contraband to sub-agents, who were also street peddlers. The peddlers sold them in small packets in various areas in north Chennai. Valliammal, the police said, had her own network of drug peddlers in her neighbourhood and also had contacts in Sholavaram, Karanodai, Red Hills, Puzhal and neighbouring areas.

“The gang has an excellent network in the border areas of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, especially north and north western parts of Chennai,” said K. Balu, inspector (law & order), Sholavaram police.

The Sholavaram police has registered a case under section 20 (b) of Narcotic Drugs Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

All four drug peddlers were produced before a court in Ponneri and later sent to Puzhal prison.