2024 Ganja Smuggling Case: Coimbatore Court Sentences Four, Including Woman, to 12 Years in Prison

Coimbatore: A Special Court for Essential Commodities and Narcotic Drugs cases in Coimbatore has sentenced four persons, including a woman, to 12 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs. 1 lakh each for smuggling 37 kg of ganja.

The incident took place in 2024 when police personnel were on patrol near the Avinashi Ther Nilayam area in Tiruppur district. On noticing the police, four persons, including a woman, abandoned four bags and fled. On searching the bags, police found 37 kg of ganja.

The police subsequently traced and arrested the four suspects, who were hiding in a nearby fruit shop. They were identified as Piyarul Sheikh, Shakeel Mustaq, Humayun Sheikh and Nargis Bibi, all hailing from West Bengal.

The accused had allegedly transported ganja from northern states by train and brought it to supply in Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts. Avinashi police arrested them and remanded them to judicial custody.

The case was tried before the Special Court for Essential Commodities and Narcotic Drugs cases in Coimbatore. The prosecution submitted evidence, including CCTV footage, along with details of the seized contraband.

After hearing the case, Judge Rajalingam sentenced all four accused, Piyarul Sheikh, Shakeel Mustaq, Humayun Sheikh and Nargis Bibi, to 12 years of imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs. 1 lakh each.

The four convicts have been lodged in Coimbatore Central Prison.