Chennai court sentences two men to 12 years jail for smuggling ganja

CHENNAI: A special court for narcotics cases has sentenced two men to 12 years imprisonment for smuggling ganja to Tamil Nadu from Andhra Pradesh 12 years ago. On August 18, 2020, the Red Hills police in Chennai received a tip-off about ganja being smuggled in a van. Based on the tip off, they intercepted the van and found ganja in 18 gunny bags. They arrested Arunpandi, 31, and Vignesh, 28, of Madurai for smuggling the contraband. Based on the confession of Arunpandi, five more people were arrested. The five people included the financier of the operation, two people from Andhra Pradesh who sold the drugs to the convicts and a friend of the convicts who gave them accommodation. Arunpandi was the owner of the van used for smuggling the contraband. Arunpandi and Vignesh were charged under sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.Principal special judge of EC and NDPS court C Thirumagal pronounced the verdict on Monday. Arunpandi was imposed a fine of Rs 2.9 lakh, and Vignesh a fine of Rs 1.7 lakh.There were a total of seven accused people. However, only two were convicted by the court.Special public prosecutor K J Saravanan argued the case.