COIMBATORE: The Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of the Coimbatore city police on Wednesday busted an inter-state prescription drug ring with the arrest of seven youths and seized 1,708 intoxicating painkiller tablets from them.The arrested have been identified as S Sanjay, 23, a labourer from RG Pudur; R Madhan Balaji, 19, and R Jagat Hari, 24, both from Chinniyampalayam; M Abubacker Siddiq, 29, an autorickshaw driver from Vellalore Housing Unit; P Surya, 22, of Chettipalayam; K Soundararajan, 23, a college graduate from Nava India; and M Nagarajan, 24, of Vellalore.According to police, several members of the gang have prior criminal records, including pending cases related to murder and cannabis smuggling.Preliminary investigations revealed that the gang had travelled to Mangaluru in Karnataka to procure the scheduled formulation pills at ₹30 apiece. They transported the contraband to Coimbatore to peddle it among local youth and students at ₹300 per tablet.Acting on specific intelligence regarding the illicit trade, an ANTF team intercepted the gang, seized the consignment and handed them over to the Peelamedu police.Police registered a case under relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. All the seven youths were remanded in judicial custody.
