In a significant crackdown on drug trafficking, a 27-year-old man from Tiruchi was taken into custody by police in Vellore on Wednesday. The arrest occurred during a routine vehicle inspection at a checkpoint in Christianpet village, near Katpadi. Officers discovered a substantial 10 kilograms of ganja concealed in the man’s bag, which he was transporting on a government bus.
The individual, identified as R. Baskar, a resident of Tiruchi, was traveling on a state-run bus heading from Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh towards Erode district. His journey led him through Chittoor before the bus stopped at the Katpadi checkpoint. During a thorough check of passengers and their belongings, Baskar’s reluctance to allow inspection of his bag raised suspicion, prompting officers to conduct a more detailed search, which ultimately led to the discovery of the illegal substance.
Preliminary investigations indicate that Baskar obtained the ganja from contacts in Vijayawada. His intention was to distribute the narcotics among industrial workers in various major towns and cities across the region, including Ambur, Vaniyambadi, Salem, Hosur, and Erode. Following his arrest, the Katpadi Police initiated a formal case, and Baskar has since been remanded to the Central Prison in Vellore. The investigation into the wider drug network is actively continuing.
Separately, another police operation in Chetpet town, Tiruvannamalai, resulted in the apprehension of two individuals for involvement in ganja sales on the same day. The arrested persons were identified as S. Dinesh Kumar, 27, who operated a small shop, and V. Suresh Kumar, 45, who reportedly supplied Dinesh with illegal tobacco products (gutka). A surprise inspection uncovered approximately 150 kilograms of gutka from their possession. Chetpet police have registered a case, and further inquiries are underway to uncover more details about their activities.