Chennai: The police intercepted ganja consignments to the tune of 166 kg, meant to be smuggled into neighbouring Kerala and sourced from Andhra Pradesh, besides arresting a trio along with three vehicles, late on Friday night.
A special team led by Madhavaram Milk Colony crime inspector Shanmugasundaram was screening the vehicles along Mathur 200-Feet Road when they intercepted a cargo van around 11 pm.
The driver of the van bearing registration number TN 07 B 2331, Chellapandi and his aide Ajith Kumar, claimed that they were carrying jackfruit to Theni.
The cops wondered why they were bringing jackfruit from Vishakapatnam to Theni, which is bordering Kerala and is part of Western Ghats, believed to be indigenous to jackfruits. The baffled duo contradicted on reasoning on jackfruit.
A peek into their cargo revealed that jackfruit was used as a cover to conceal a compartment that had 69 bundles, each having two kilograms of ganja.
Based on their inputs, another scooter plying by that road was intercepted and the rider was Vellaisamy, (60), of Mathur. Eight kg of ganja packed in four packets were found in the two-wheeler.
A sustained interrogation led to the seizure of 20 more kg of ganja, hidden in a jeep. The trio confessed to have been hired by Amaresan of Cumbum, Theni, to transport the contraband.
Ganja cultivation in the state and neighbouring Kerala has been reduced considerably forcing those involved to source it from elsewhere to keep their supply chain intact.
