Cuddalore district police have successfully dismantled a major ganja supply and peddling network, arresting 27 individuals, including the primary suspect who hails from Odisha. During these operations, a significant 42 kg of ganja was confiscated in separate, coordinated incidents.
Superintendent of Police S. Jeyakumar reported that two specialized teams were formed following specific intelligence indicating that ganja was being smuggled into Cuddalore for distribution throughout the district. These teams were led by Deputy Superintendents of Police Ruban Kumar (Cuddalore) and P.N. Raja (Panruti).
On Sunday, October 4, 2025, the team under Mr. Ruban Kumar’s leadership was conducting routine vehicle inspections on Customs Road in Cuddalore. They observed a group behaving suspiciously and quickly moved in to apprehend Thangapandi, also known as Ezhumalai, along with Siva, Dheena, and nine other suspects. From this group, police seized 22 kg of ganja.
Concurrently, the team commanded by Mr. Raja successfully apprehended 15 additional individuals, including Pratap Swain, identified as the main accused from Odisha. This arrest took place at a cashew orchard located near Silambinathanpettai, Panruti, where an additional 20 kg of the illegal substance was recovered.
Authorities stated that Swain had sourced the ganja from Odisha with the clear intention of distributing and selling it to local peddlers in Cuddalore. All arrested individuals have since been presented before a local court and subsequently remanded into custody.
A formal case has been registered, and comprehensive further investigations are currently underway.