Nagapattinam: Officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence yesterday arrested four people, including a TVK functionary from Nagai, who had stockpiled methamphetamine worth Rs. 135 crore for smuggling to Sri Lanka.
Officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (Trichy Zone), functioning under the Union Ministry of Finance, received confidential information that the international narcotic methamphetamine was being smuggled from Nagapattinam to Sri Lanka. Following this, around 6 a.m. yesterday, a team of 16 officials arrived at the house of Sugan (27), who is from Nathutheru in Prathaparampuram near Velankanni in Nagapattinam district. They conducted a search there and questioned Sugan, his brothers, friends, and others for more than four hours.
According to the information they provided, it was found that Bhoopalan (42), a member of the Nagapattinam district TVK executive committee and an advocate from Keelapidagai, Chinthamani Main Road near Velankanni, was the mastermind and the one behind it.
Following this, an eight-member team of officials went to Bhoopalan’s house and conducted a search. It was discovered that narcotics had been hidden in his house.
In the initial investigation into this smuggling incident, it was found that Bhupalan’s brother Parthiban (29) and Satheesh (30), a resident of Yadhavar Street in Prathaparamanapuram, were also involved. Since Bhupalan’s wife Premiya is from Sri Lanka, he took advantage of this and established contacts there, smuggling narcotics through friends. Following this, officials from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence arrested all four — Bhupalan, Sugan, Parthiban, and Satheesh — and seized 135 kg of methamphetamine from them.
Later, the 4 people who were arrested were brought to the Nagapattinam Customs office, and further questioning is being carried out. Officials said that the value of the 135 kg of methamphetamine drug seized would be between Rs. 100 crore and Rs. 135 crore in the international market.
Background of Bhoopalan’s arrest
Recently, intelligence officers discovered that a person from Ramanathapuram district was in possession of methamphetamine. During the interrogation conducted on him, the involvement of Boopalan and Sugan came to light. Following this, both were brought under surveillance. In this situation, fishermen in the area informed the police that a Sri Lankan Tamil living in Canada had stayed at a lodge in Vedaranyam last week, and that he had paid Rs. 50,000 to a fisherman in Kodiakkarai and taken away a boat, along with a high-speed engine worth Rs. 1 lakh purchased from Karaikal.
Accordingly, intelligence officers surrounded and questioned the person concerned. It is also said that this series of actions is being carried out based on the information obtained from him, a Sri Lankan Tamil from Canada.
Expelled from the party
TVK Nagapattinam district secretary Sugumaran has announced that Bhoopalan, who was arrested in a drug smuggling case, has been expelled from the party.
In it, ‘Bhoopalan, who had been serving as a member of the TVK executive committee in Nagapattinam district, has been arrested by officers of the Central Narcotics Control Intelligence Department on charges related to smuggling high-grade narcotics worth several crores of rupees.
Therefore, because he acted in a manner completely contrary to the party’s dignity, reputation, and disciplinary standards, Bhoopalan is removed from all responsibilities in the party, including the position of basic member. Therefore, it has been announced that no office-bearer should have any contact with him.'
