The Anti-Narcotic Intelligence Unit(ANIU) which was formed recently at Greater Chennai City Police to crackdown the drug cartels, has detected 50 networks of criminals peddling synthetic drugs. The special unit has identified 351 criminals in the networks and 257 of them were caught and lodged in prison.

Additionally four more old networks were detected, 23 criminals were identified. Eight of them were arrested, said the city police.

A senior police officer said the Greater Chennai City Police is taking serious efforts to eradicate the drug menace and trafficking in the city following the launch of a state-drive across the state by the Chief Minister M.K.Stalin to ensure Drug Free Tamil Nadu. The drive against the drug is being conducted by the specially formed ANIU and under the supervision of Joint Commissioner of Police, Intelligence G.Dharmarajan. The unit is headed by Deputy Commissioner of Police, Intelligence S.Sakthi Ganeshan intensified its surveillance across the city.

In the last five months, 707 cases were booked against drug offenders and 61 of them were booked for peddling synthetic drug. As many as 2,117 drug offenders were arrested. 11 Nigerians, one Cameroon national, six persons from the other states and two women were in the list of offenders who were arrested. 710 kilos of ganja, 21.5 methamphetamine, 1.06 methaqualone, 39 kilos of ketamine, 11.3 grams heroin, 158 LSD stamps and 295 MDMA tablets were seized from the drug offenders. At least 300 drug offenders were detained under Goondas act in the last year.

On Monday, the Greater Chennai City Police Commissioner A. Arun summoned and rewarded the inspectors and sub-inspectors for their good performance. He also distributed certificates to them in the presence of senior police officers.