An individual linked to an Indo-Sri Lanka illegal drugs and arms trade racket, which allegedly working for the revival of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), has been arrested in Chennai by the Indian National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Indian media reported that in a crackdown on Indo-Lanka drugs and arms trade racket, the NIA had conducted raids at multiple places belonging to suspects in Chennai.

The NIA has also seized huge cache of cash, gold bars, digital devices, drugs and documents, along with other incriminating material during the raid.The agency initiated investigations into the racket in July 2022. As of now, the NIA has made fourteen arrests in the matter including the latest arrest.Earlier, in December 2022, 13 accused were arrested during raids in 21 locations across Tamil Nadu.

Investigations into the case have revealed that the proceeds of drugs and arms trade in Sri Lanka were received in India through hawala agents.It was further found that the hawala transactions were done through hotels and businesses based in Mannadi, Chennai.The latest seizure included 6.8 million Indian Rupees and 1,000 Singapore Dollars and nine gold biscuits (total 300 gram).The NIA has also recovered INR 1.2 million in Indian currency from a hotel in Chennai.

The suspect arrested following the raids has been found to be managing the drug trade on behalf of a Sri Lankan refugee and a drug trafficker who had conspired with other accused to revive LTTE through drugs and arms trade.