Chennai/Madurai: In connection with a drug smuggling case, NIA officials conducted raids today at 8 locations in Tamil Nadu, including Chennai and Madurai.
On Nov. 23, 2024, an Indian Coast Guard maritime surveillance aircraft detected a suspicious boat from Myanmar in the Andaman Sea. The boat was intercepted and searched through a coordinated sea and air operation.
At that time, 6,016.87 kg of 'methamphetamine' worth Rs. 36,000 crore smuggled in that boat was seized, and the 6 people on board were arrested.
In the initial investigation conducted on those arrested, it was found that this international drug smuggling gang had links with individuals from various states across the country, including Tamil Nadu.
Following this, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) registered a case and intensified the investigation in order to identify and completely dismantle this massive illegal drug network.
As a continuation of the investigation, NIA officials carried out raids at various locations in Mizoram and Tamil Nadu from this morning. In Tamil Nadu, the raids were conducted at 8 locations in Chennai and Madurai.
NIA officials conducted raids at the house of leather export and import magnate Iqbal, who lives in Nandanam CID Nagar in Chennai, under the protection of Central Armed Police Force personnel.
Searches were also carried out at the house of Abu Bakar Gani Siddique, who lives in Mint Marton City in Vannarappettai, and at the Porur house of the building owner in that area.
More than 10 officials conducted a search at the house of Charles Joseph Reddy, who lives in Indira Priyadarshini Nagar in Perumbakkam near Tambaram. It is said that a woman from another state was also brought under the scope of questioning along with him.
An NIA raid was also conducted at the home of cloth trader Ameer, who lives in the Tamil Nadu Housing Board residential complex in Avadi, near Chennai.
Similarly, a four-member NIA team went to the house of businessman Balamurugan, who hails from Perungudi in Madurai district and runs a business in Manipur state, at 5:30 a.m. Since he was not at home, they questioned his wife Murugeswari for more than 30 minutes and collected some important information.
During these searches conducted in Chennai and Madurai, it appears that digital evidence and several important documents were seized. The NIA has stated that complete details regarding the seized documents and information will be officially released only after the searches are fully completed.
