Odisha Native Among Four Arrested in Coimbatore Drug and Tobacco Raids

Coimbatore: The Coimbatore District Police arrested a man and seized 1.15 kg of ganja near Bodipalayam bus stop on October 28, while in separate cases, city police arrested three others in connection with the alleged sale of ganja and banned tobacco products.

The seizures across the operations included 100 grams of ganja in Sundarapuram, 20 kg of Hans tobacco in Pappanaickenpalayam and 198 grams of banned tobacco products in Avarampalayam.

Acting on a tip-off about ganja sales, Madukkarai police searched the area near Bodipalayam bus stop and allegedly found Sasikant Jena, 38, a native of Odisha, in possession of 1.15 kg of ganja intended for sale. He was arrested and remanded to judicial custody, police said.

In a separate case, Sundarapuram police conducted a search following information about the alleged sale of ganja near LIC Colony. They detained Sri Venkatesh, 18, of Kamaraj Nagar in Sundarapuram's LIC Colony, and seized 100 grams of ganja allegedly kept for sale. He was arrested, produced before a court and remanded to prison.

Meanwhile, a special police team searched a petty shop near the TASMAC outlet at Kaai Kadai bus stop in Pappanaickenpalayam, within the Race Course police station limits. Police allegedly found 20 kg of banned Hans tobacco stored for sale by Kennedy, 41, of Ponnamangalam in Avudaiyarkoil, Pudukkottai district. The stock was seized, and he was arrested.

In another operation, Peelamedu police searched a grocery shop in Duraisamy Layout, Avarampalayam, and seized Hans and Vimal tobacco packets weighing a total of 198 grams. The shopkeeper, Vijayakumar, 52, of South Street, Avarampalayam, was arrested. Both Kennedy and Vijayakumar were subsequently released on police bail.

The public have been urged to share information about the sale of narcotics and banned tobacco products confidentially through the Coimbatore District Police's 'Nizhal' QR code-based platform. Information can also be provided to the district police control room at 94981 81212 or through WhatsApp at 77081 00100.