In a major success in the war against drugs, Chennai’s Anti-Narcotics Intelligence Unit (ANIU), along with the Periamedu Police, arrested five individuals and seized 1.5 kilograms of Methaqualone, a banned psychotropic drug, on Thursday.
Acting on a tip-off, the team launched a pre-dawn raid near the ‘My Lady Park’ area in Periamedu, a locality under police scrutiny for drug-related activities. The operation was part of a broader citywide crackdown on the sale and distribution of synthetic narcotics.
The suspects were identified as:
Vijaykumar alias Manikandan (44)
Kumar (36)
Periyathurai (28)
Rajesh (32)
Naresh (41)
Police said the group was flagged for their suspicious behavior and inconsistent answers during an initial encounter. A subsequent search of their belongings led to the discovery of the banned substance Methaqualone, often misused in tablet form under street names.
Authorities confirmed that all five suspects have been taken into custody and booked under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Investigations are ongoing to determine the source and intended distribution network of the contraband.
