Overview
- DRI officers carried out searches and arrests in Nagapattinam on Friday after intelligence led them to an alleged consignment of about 135 kg of methamphetamine and NDPS Act proceedings were started.
- N Boopalan, a 42‑year‑old TVK Nagapattinam executive committee member and advocate, was detained and immediately removed from party positions and membership.
- Investigators have detained several other men for questioning and report that the drugs were moved by car from Chennai to Nagapattinam before being recovered.
- Probes are examining possible links to Sri Lanka and a wider smuggling network, with reporters noting that one suspect ran a lodge and Boopalan’s wife is from Sri Lanka.
- Opposition leaders have publicly demanded NIA and ED involvement and political criticism of TVK has intensified, while the DRI has not yet issued a full public statement and further verification is pending.