Gang that posed as tourist bikers to smuggle ganja held

Chennai: Police busted a ganja smuggling network by arresting four suspects who posed as members of tourist biking groups to smuggle ganja from Andhra Pradesh and Odisha into Chennai. In separate operations, police arrested six suspects and seized 140kg of ganja, 2,000 narcotic tablets, two motorcycles and a car used for transporting the contraband.According to police, personnel conducting routine patrols in the JP Estate area of Avadi detained three men on suspicion. The accused were identified as Dayalan, Udaya, and Prashanth, all residents of Ayappakkam near Ambattur.During a search of the bags carried by the suspects, police recovered 62kg of ganja. Based on information obtained during interrogation, officers later arrested another suspect, Gopi, at his residence in Ayappakkam and seized an additional 38kg of ganja. Police also seized two bikes used for transporting the contraband and a car used for local distribution.Investigators said the accused travelled with tourist biking groups to avoid police while transporting the narcotic substance. Police said the gang later distributed the ganja to local peddlers and buyers in the Chennai suburbs. A case was registered at Avadi police station, and all four accused were remanded in judicial custody.In another operation on Saturday, Ayappakkam police conducted vehicle checks near a petrol bunk on Donegala Camp Road and intercepted two men travelling on a motorcycle. The accused were identified as Gokul and Rukeshkumar, both residents of Ayappakkam.During the search, police seized 40kg of ganja, 1,700 nitrazepam tablets and 300 tapentadol tablets from them. The motorcycle used by the duo was also seized. Police registered a case against the two accused at Ayappakkam police station. Both were produced before a court and remanded in judicial custody.