South Zone police bust inter-state drug supply network

Tamil Nadu Police have busted an inter-state courier-based drug supply network, involved in illegal procurement and distribution of painkiller tablets, and arrested its two key operators from Haryana on November 2.The arrested accused were identified as Mahender Singh Bisht of Haryana and Sunil Kumar, operating from Jammu and Kashmir.The gang used postal and private courier services to distribute the painkillers for over one year. A total of 4,400 tablets and 18 accused were arrested in this operation.Based on intelligence inputs, the police were able to intercept suspicious consignments originating from outside Tamil Nadu.The South Zone police launched Operation Deep Source in July 2026, and seven cases were registered in Madurai, Dindigul and Theni districts following the interception of consignments containing painkillers over the past three months.Investigation revealed that 588 suspicious parcels had been booked from Ambala over the past year, with destinations spanning 19 States and Union Territories, indicating a much wider trafficking network. Eleven of these parcels seemed to have been directed to Tamil Nadu. Sunil Kumar had been facilitating the supply of tablets to T.N..The accused used fictitious identities and false sender addresses to evade detection. The investigation is being expanded to trace financial transactions, communication networks, associates and beneficiaries. Published - November 06, 2026 08:18 pm IST