In a major crackdown on narcotics, the Coimbatore District Police on Sunday seized a large quantity of ganja, narcotic chocolates and synthetic drugs during coordinated raids across the district and arrested five persons.
Acting on specific intelligence, police teams conducted simultaneous searches at 50 locations under the limits of Chettipalayam police station and other areas including Perur, Karumathampatti and Madukkarai. The operation was led by two Deputy Superintendents of Police, nine Inspectors and around 300 police personnel.
District Superintendent of Police Karthikeyan inspected the seized materials at the Chettipalayam police station and later told reporters that the district police were intensifying action against drug networks.
During the raids, police seized 4.5 kg of ganja, 50 mg of ganja oil, methamphetamine, other synthetic narcotics and ganja-infused chocolates. Drug paraphernalia, cell phones and 22 vehicles without valid documents were also confiscated.
Five persons have been arrested in connection with the seizures, while 18 others are under inquiry. Two of the arrested individuals already have criminal cases pending against them, the Superintendent of Police said.
He added that investigations were under way to trace the source of the methamphetamine, with preliminary inputs suggesting that narcotics might be transported by train. Police are also probing online distribution channels used for drug sales.
Last year, the district police seized 670 kg of cannabis in various operations, he noted.
The Superintendent of Police urged house owners to verify the background of tenants, particularly students arriving from outside the district, and to alert police if any suspicious activity is noticed. He also appealed to college administrations to closely monitor student activities and immediately report unusual behaviour.
Two additional check posts have been set up at Ettimadai, and surveillance has been intensified to curb the movement of narcotics into the district.
