StatesTamil Nadu
Palaniswami asks why CM Vijay is silent on 137 kg meth haul linked to expelled TVK man
The AIADMK chief said it was central investigators, not the state police, who broke the Nagapattinam network that was allegedly smuggling crystal methamphetamine to Sri Lanka.
Key points
- The DRI seized 137 kg of crystal methamphetamine from a coastal village in Nagapattinam district.
- The alleged mastermind, N Boopalan, is an expelled TVK functionary and lawyer.
- Edappadi K Palaniswami said the state police had no part in the bust.
AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Tuesday accused Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay of keeping quiet about a major drug seizure in Nagapattinam district, after the alleged mastermind turned out to be a functionary expelled from Vijay’s party, the TVK.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence seized 137 kg of crystal methamphetamine from a coastal village in the district on 16 and 17 October. Investigators say the network planned to move the drugs to Sri Lanka through a mid-sea transfer. The haul is valued at over ₹100 crore in the illicit market; Palaniswami put the figure at about ₹400 crore.
Four men have been remanded to judicial custody: N Boopalan, 42, a lawyer from Chinthamani and the expelled TVK functionary identified as the alleged mastermind; J Suganathan, 27, a lodge operator from Velankanni; his brother J Parthiban, 29; and D Sathish, 30.
“For your information, Chief Minister Vijay, it was not your state police that busted this cartel,” Palaniswami said, pointing out that the operation was carried out by central investigators. He asked: “So, can we assume that this drug issue is happening with the knowledge of the ruling party leadership and with their help?”
Palaniswami also alleged that the TVK’s Nagapattinam town secretary, Paulraj, had threatened media houses reporting on the bust. The TVK and the Chief Minister’s office had not responded to his remarks.