Nine, including actor and assistant director, arrested in Chennai drug bust

The Greater Chennai City Police arrested nine persons, including an actor in the Tamil film industry, after the Anti-Narcotics Intelligence Unit (ANIU) seized methamphetamine and ganja from them at Chennai’s Valasaravakkam.

Acting on specific intelligence received by the ANIU, a special ANIU team, along with a police team led by the Inspector of Valasaravakkam police station, conducted a coordinated surveillance operation on the night of February 4, 2026, near Megamart, Valasaravakkam.

Initially, the ANIU South team and local police arrested Vigneshwaran, 33, of Nesapakkam, and questioned him. He disclosed to the police that he had bought narcotic substances from Venkatesh Kumar, 31, of Kovur near Porur. The police deployed personnel in plainclothes and approached Venkatesh Kumar under the pretext of purchasing drugs while posing as potential buyers. He got to an Aavin milk booth in Valasaravakkam, along with his associates, in a car. The police surrounded them and conducted checks.

It was found that they were in possession of the narcotic substance methamphetamine for illegal sale. The police arrested Venkatesh Kumar (31), Karthik Raja (31) of Mangadu, Yashwanth (25) of Kattupakkam, and Vigneshwaran (35) of Nesapakkam.

Based on information provided by them, the police also arrested five more persons who were in possession of narcotics. The five were identified as S. Sriram (33) of West Mambalam, Alvipinsha (27) of Palakkad, Kerala, Nivetha alias Vinci Nivetha (26) of Vadapalani, Thameem Niswan (27) of Mannady, and Anju Krishna (30), Vadapalani.

The police said Anju Krishna had acted in the Tamil film Vellimalai as well as in a few Malayalam films. Vincy Nivetha had worked as an assistant in a Tamil film.

In total, nine persons were arrested. The police seized 6 grams of methamphetamine, 6 grams of OG ganja, one bong, one LSD stamp, 10 mobile phones including seven iPhones, one car, and one diary from the accused.

The nine arrested suspects were produced before a magistrate court in the city and remanded in judicial custody. Police sources said they were also involved in peddling, besides using the drugs. Further investigation is on.