Absconding Tamil Film Producer, Accused Of Smuggling Rs 2,000 Cr Drugs, Arrested

Tamil film producer, Jaffer Sadiq, absconding since February 15, was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Saturday. The investigating agency had arrested the Tamil filmmaker's two allies earlier and now the mastermind has been caught. According to the reports, the filmmaker and his gang exported drugs worth over ₹ 2,000 crore to several countries including Australia and New Zealand.

In the past, Jaffer Sadiq has worked as a member of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) functionary.

NCB Deputy Director General Gyaneshwar Singh said, "He (Jaffer Sadiq) has sent 3,500 kg pseudoephedrine in 45 parcels to Australia."

The reports said the filmmaker chose a dramatic way to smuggle drugs (Pseudoephedrine) concealed in coconuts and dry fruits. Notably, Pseudoephedrine is banned in India and is often used in the production of methamphetamine, or crystal meth.

NCB had named Jaffer Sadiq as the "kingpin" of the India-Australia-New Zealand drugs trafficking network.

The reports added that Sadiq was hiding in Jaipur when he was on the run. He kept on changing his location as he went to Thiruvananthapuram, Mumbai, Pune, and Hyderabad before moving to Rajasthan's pink city.

Sadiq used money earned from drug smuggling to produce films and buy a hotel. He has produced four films till now and is set to release his latest Tamil film "Mangai".

Earlier last week, the NCB seized 36 kg of drugs from a couple worth Rs 180 crore from two rail passengers in Madurai. The accused told the investigative officers that these drugs were to be smuggled to Sri Lanka.