Tamil Nadu Police Seize 5,000 Ganja Chocolates, Arrest 11

In a significant drug enforcement operation, the Tamil Nadu Police detained 11 individuals, including seven college students, on July 26, 2025. The arrests followed extensive searches in Tambaram, a suburb of Chennai, where authorities seized over 5,000 ‘ganja chocolates’ and additional narcotic items.

Approximately 100 police personnel, led by an assistant commissioner, conducted simultaneous searches at 12 locations, including five residential apartments. The operation resulted in the confiscation of 166 grams of ganja, 5,250 ganja chocolates, various hookah-related items from unauthorized outlets, illicit tobacco products, and 10 mobile phones allegedly used for drug transactions. A release from the Tambaram police confirmed the arrests and detailed the scope of the operation.

Details of the Operation

The searches were carried out in areas including Potheri, Marimalai Nagar, and Kattankulatur under the jurisdiction of the Tambaram city police commissionerate. Police reported that seven of the individuals arrested were pursuing Bachelor of Technology (B Tech) degrees. In total, seven cases have been registered against the accused under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act of 1985 and the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act of 2003 at the Marimalai Nagar Police Station.

A special police team continues to investigate the sources of procurement and the distribution networks involved in this drug trafficking operation. According to police officials, “Strong and sustained efforts are underway to completely dismantle the network and eliminate the drug menace in the region.”

Context of Drug Enforcement in Tambaram

The operation is part of a broader crackdown on drug-related activities in the region. So far in 2025, a total of 318 cases have been registered under the NDPS Act within the Tambaram police jurisdiction. Authorities have seized approximately 1,516 kilograms of ganja during various raids and follow-up investigations this year, resulting in the arrest of 341 individuals connected to possession, distribution, and trafficking of narcotic substances.

Additionally, 1,208 kilograms of seized contraband have been destroyed in accordance with established legal protocols. Eleven habitual and notorious drug offenders have been detained under the Goondas Act, underscoring the police’s commitment to combating repeat and organized offenders.

The measures taken by the Tamil Nadu Police reflect a concerted effort to address the growing drug issue in Tambaram, which serves as a gateway to southern Tamil Nadu. Authorities emphasize the importance of continued vigilance and community involvement in tackling this pressing challenge.