The Ramanathapuram District Police’s Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) has dismantled a methamphetamine syndicate, seized nearly 1.4 kg of methamphetamine valued at approximately ₹1.50 crore, busted a meth manufacturing lab and apprehended the mastermind.

Ramanathapuram Superintendent of Police G. Chandeesh, during a press meet here on Friday, said, as per the instructions of the Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, various State-level special operations were being carried out against narcotics offenders and sellers.

“As part of this operation, the Ramanathapuram district ANTF team dismantled a major drug trafficking network,” he said, adding that the operation led to the seizure of around 1.4 kg of methamphetamine, raw materials used to manufacture the drug, including 1.9 kg of pseudoephedrine, 5 kg of red phosphorus, 4.8 kg of iodine, besides acids, reagents and thinners. The police also unearthed a meth manufacturing lab, seized laboratory equipment and arrested nine key operatives, including the mastermind..

He added that the operation commenced on July 27, 2026, at around 5 pm when the Ramanathapuram ANTF team, acting on credible intelligence, conducted a targeted operation near Municipal water tank in the district.

Mr. Chandeesh stated that the team apprehended Jabeesh, 25, a resident of Chetticharvalasai, Marthandam, who was working in Ramanathapuram and during the search, officers recovered one gram of meth from his possession.

Further interrogation of Jabeesh revealed that he had procured the contraband from Muhammed Umarul Jameen, 22, and Mohammed Aslam, 22. Acting swiftly, Mr. Chandeesh said, the ANTF team raided their residence at Pallivasal Street in Karikoottam, arrested both of them and seized an additional eight grams of methamphetamine.

Further questioning of Jameen and Aslam exposed a larger supply line originating from Shiek Muhammed, 38, of Kathar Pitchai Street in Ilayangudi, Sivagangai District. As the task force confirmed his presence, they apprehended him and recovered a consignment of 120 gram of meth.

“During interrogation, Shiek Muhammed disclosed that the shipment had been arranged through Habeebur Rahuman, 52, of Ilayangudi. Following this lead, the team arrested Habeebur Rahuman, Sikkandar Bathursa, 53, and Jamal Moideen, 60, and seized 300 grams, 100 grams and 180 grams of methamphetamine from them, respectively, breaking the network’s local distribution chain,” Mr. Chandeesh elaborated.

Under intense questioning, he said that the accused confessed that the principal mastermind and chief supplier behind the trafficking ring was Shahul Hameed, a resident of Ilayangudi who operated a leather business in Chennai.

“He procures the raw materials for the preparation of the contraband and sends them to Jahir Hussain in Ilayankudi. Zahir Hussain, along with two others, prepared the contraband in a meth manufacturing lab hidden in a lathe workshop owned by Zahir Hussain,” he said.

With this information, the team searched the premises and found 670 grams of meth and raw materials used to manufacture the meth, namely pseudoephedrine, red phosphorus, iodine, other acids, reagents and thinners along with lab instruments.

Including the seizure, the overall quantity of seized meth was 1.37 kg.

“As the whole network is being tracked, two more accused are under enquiry,” Mr. Chandeesh said.

Published - July 31, 2026 08:09 pm IST