A series of arrests by the city’s Anti-Narcotics Intelligence Unit (ANIU) has exposed a major drug cartel that spanned multiple states and international borders. Over the past month, 17 individuals have been arrested, including seven Nigerian nationals and one Sudanese national, across Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
On Wednesday, ANIU officers arrested three Nigerian nationals — Chigemezel Nwune, Ogoegbunem, and Benard Oknkwo Juel. Police seized methamphetamine, ganja, heroin, and Rs 7,500 in cash from their possession.
This followed an initial breakthrough on March 9 when the unit arrested Mohammad Sohail, Vigneswaran, Yuvaraj, Pravin, and Balachander. Officers recovered 23g of methamphetamine and 5.3g of ganja from them.
“We are currently verifying whether the arrested Nigerian and Sudanese nationals have overstayed their visas in India. If found guilty, they will be detained in the foreign nationals’ detention centre in Trichy,” said N Kannan, additional commissioner of police (south Chennai).
The arrests reveal the widespread nature of the drug operation, which is now under intense investigation.
