Sri Vijaya Puram, April 18: A passenger arriving from Kolkata was arrested at Veer Savarkar International Airport in Sri Vijaya Puram on 17 April after authorities recovered 6.330 kilograms of ganja concealed inside his luggage, officials said.
Acting on specific intelligence inputs, a team from the Anti-Narcotics Police Station carried out an operation at the airport in the Lamba Line area, leading to the interception of the suspect shortly after his arrival on an Air India Express flight. The operation resulted in the seizure of the contraband and the arrest of one individual under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
The accused has been identified as R. Murugananthgam, 29, a private driver residing near Ganesh Mandir in New Pahargaon, Sri Vijaya Puram. According to officials, he had arrived in the islands on the same day when he was intercepted by the police team during routine surveillance based on prior intelligence.
Upon inspection of his belongings, the police recovered 6.330 kilograms of ganja hidden inside his bag. The substance was seized on the spot, and the accused was taken into custody after the completion of all required legal procedures.
The operation was led by Inspector K. Binoj, Station House Officer of the Anti-Narcotics Police Station. The team involved in the raid included ASI Surya Narayan, ASI Sanjay Yadow, Head Constable Laxman Rao, Head Constable (SG) Ratan Das, Police Constable M. Raja Rao, Police Constable Santhosh Kumar, and Lady Police Constable Nandita Mistry.
Officials confirmed that the operation was conducted under the supervision of Dy.SP (Narcotics) Suma Madda and under the overall supervision of Jitendra Kumar Meena, Deputy Inspector General of Police (CID), Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Authorities stated that the interception was part of ongoing efforts to monitor and curb the movement of illegal substances into the islands. The use of intelligence inputs and coordinated action at transit points such as airports continues to play a critical role in identifying suspected carriers.
The accused has been booked under relevant sections of the NDPS Act, 1985, and further investigation is underway to determine the source and intended distribution of the seized contraband.
Police have reiterated the need for public cooperation in identifying and reporting suspicious activities related to drug trafficking and substance abuse. Officials urged residents to remain alert and share information that could assist in preventing the spread of narcotics within the islands.
Helpline numbers including 112, 234216, 9434280055, and 9531856080 have been made available for reporting such cases.
