7 engineering, chemistry students arrested in Chennai for allegedly running secret meth lab

In a significant anti-drug operation, seven students in Chennai have been arrested by the Tamil Nadu Police for allegedly operating a methamphetamine laboratory from a residential property in Kodungaiyur. The group, which included four robotics engineering graduates and one MSc chemistry student, were reportedly running a makeshift lab to produce methamphetamine, commonly known as meth, according to The Times of India.

The Anti-Drug Intelligence Unit (ADIU), acting on a tip-off, conducted a raid on the premises and uncovered around 250 grams of methamphetamine, along with various scientific equipment and chemicals used in the drug's production. Authorities seized a range of laboratory tools, including weighing machines, glass jars, test tubes, pipettes, burettes, and mobile phones, all of which were allegedly used in the illicit operation.

The students, identified as Fleming Francis, 21; Naveen, 22; Pravin Pranav, 21; Kishore, 21; Gnanapandian, 22; Arunkumar, 22; and Dhanush, 23, have been taken into judicial custody. Police believe that the group had been supplying the methamphetamine to a larger criminal network. While the families of the accused claimed that their activities were related to academic research, further investigation revealed the illegal drug manufacturing inside the rented property.

One of the key suspects, Gnanapandian, who holds an MSc in chemistry, is suspected of being the main figure behind the drug production process due to his expertise. The other members of the group allegedly assisted in sourcing the chemicals and equipment from pharmaceutical companies and online suppliers.