Drug cartel kingpin held, 100 kg of pseudoephedrine seized

The Chennai unit of the NCB received information from intelligence officers that 50 kg of pseudoephedrine had been smuggled to the city while another 50 kg was being supplied to receivers in Delhi. Based on the alert, Delhi zonal unit intercepted a three-member gang on May 20 and seized 25 kg of pseudoephedrine. They managed to arrest one person from the spot, while two others were later traced to Mumbai. The NCB’s Mumbai zonal unit secured the duo and one more person, and seized another 25 kg of pseudoephedrine.

Based on their inputs, Chennai zonal unit of NCB arrested the kingpin of the cartel from his house in Mylapore. He confessed to have received 50 kg of pseudoephedrine, which was seized from a godown in Choolaimedu on Saturday. He has been remanded in judicial custody.

A Bruno, Zonal Director of NCB, said that pseudoephedrine is a drug produced under control for medical purposes, but is often abused because of its stimulant effects. “It can give an excitable, hyperactive feeling and increase heart rate and blood pressure. This precursor is the main raw chemical for manufacturing of methamphetamine, a synthetic illicit drug,” he said.

NCB sleuths suspect that the substance could have been pilfered from labs and added that the gang was intending to smuggle the contraband into Malaysia.

Heroin seized fromRajasthan man

Meanwhile, Narcotics Intelligence Bureau of the Chennai police arrested a Rajasthan native and seized 500 grams of heroin worth Rs 50 lakh. The accused, J Raju Ram Vioshoi (39) of Jolar district, smuggled the consignment from Madhya Pradesh by bus, said Inspector Purushothaman.

Based on a tip-off, the NIB sleuths approached him in the guise of buyers. When he showed the heroin pack from his shoulder bag, the police surrounded him and seized the contraband.

Investigation revealed that Raju Ram worked in the evening bazaar in Broadway for three years. He was remanded in judicial custody on Saturday.