Drug kingpin and Former DMK Functionary Jaffer Sadiq Arrested in Jaipur

Jaffer Sadiq, a Tamil film producer and former DMK functionary, was arrested by the NCB in Jaipur for alleged connections with an international drug cartel, involving the smuggling of pseudoephedrine to Australia and New Zealand.


Coimbatore: In a significant operation, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) arrested Jaffer Sadiq, a noted Tamil film producer and former functionary of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), on Saturday, March 9. Sadiq was apprehended in Jaipur for his alleged links with an international drug cartel. Having been on the run for the past few weeks, his arrest marks a critical breakthrough in the fight against drug trafficking.

Sadiq is known for producing over five Tamil films and is accused of operating a cartel that exported pseudoephedrine from India to Australia and New Zealand. The NCB, in its statement on February 24, revealed that this network spanned India, New Zealand, Australia, and Malaysia. The trafficking operations involved concealing the drugs in food products like health mix powder and dry coconuts, which were then smuggled through air and sea cargo.

The authorities are currently cooperating with their counterparts in New Zealand and Australia to dismantle the entire transnational drug trafficking network. This case highlights the sophisticated methods employed by drug cartels to evade detection and the international cooperation required to combat them.

Before his arrest, Sadiq held the position of Chennai West Deputy Organiser (NRI Wing) for the DMK. However, following the emergence of his alleged criminal activities, the DMK took swift action by permanently expelling him from the party. The party issued a statement condemning his actions for "indulging in activities that brought dishonour to the party" and has advised its cadre to sever all contacts with him.

This arrest shines a spotlight on the dark underbelly of the entertainment industry and its potential connections to international crime syndicates, prompting a call for tighter scrutiny and regulation.

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