Chennai: The Narcotics Control Bureau on Tuesday seized 210 Kgs of marijuana. According to sources, the smugglers were trying to transport the narcotic substance in a van topped with sweet potatoes. A man has been arrested and a case has been registered.

A statement from the Narcotics Control Bureau states that the van, which had a fake registration plate from Andhra Pradesh, was stopped near MGR Nagar in the city. A cursory check of the consignment showed it to be transporting sweet potatoes; however, the cops found ganja oaked under the sweet potatoes upon closer inspection. The narcotic was to be supplied in Chennai, said sources. The 28-year-old man from Theni, who was driving it, has been arrested.

Judicial Magistrate in Ambattur had ordered the remand of a 54-year-old man from Tiruvallur after he was picked up with 3.270 kg of Methamphetamine, 25.670 kg of Ephedrine and 270 gm of hashish. A search of his house had also uncovered two strips, that is 20 tablets, of Alprazolam. Six months ago the Kotturpuram police had arrested a man who had hired a ‘Zoom’ car to peddle ganja across the city. According to a recent statement by Tamil Nadu DGP J K Tripathy, ganja consumption in the state has increased by 1,500 percent in recent years.