The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Prison visitors under the eye of narcotics bureau

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 10, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Prison visitors under the eye of narcotics bureau

By K.T. Sangameswaran

CHENNAI, NOV. 9. The number of persons visiting drug offenders lodged in the Chennai Central Prison has come down of late with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) stepping up vigil. This followed detection by the bureau of visitors playing an active role in drug-related activities and of a remand prisoner indulging in drug-trafficking in the last couple of months.

The south Zonal Director, Shankar Jiwal, told The Hindu that in the case of seizure in October last of nearly five kg of heroin at Madhavaram on the city's outskirts, it was found that Prem of Sri Lanka was frequently visiting the prison to meet islanders, arrested on drug charges, and that he was carrying out their instructions.

Babulal Jain of Rajasthan, who had been arrested in connection with a criminal case, allegedly developed acquaintance with remand prisoners from north India. On release, he frequently visited them and took up drug-related activities at their bidding.

Prem and Babulal were among the four persons arrested in connection with the case. The two smuggled eight kg of brown sugar in June this year.

Mr. Jiwal said the involvement of persons already arrested and lodged in the prison here came to light in August when the bureau officials seized 12 kg of heroin at the Ramanathapuram new bus stand. The officials acted on information that a remand prisoner here was indulging in drug trafficking between north India and Sri Lanka with the assistance of some islanders in the city and other refugee camps. Three persons were arrested.

Nexus in jail

The Director said suppliers of narcotic drugs and receivers were lodged in prisons. Added to this was the nexus of some visitors, also indulging in drug-related activities.

The Chennai prison has the largest number of drug offenders in the State.

There are nearly 100 remand prisoners under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.

Thanks to the watch on visitors, their number, which was around 30, came down to 10-12 a day, Mr. Jiwal said.

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