Trichy city police have busted a drug racket involving the illegal sale of Tapentadol, a prescription-only narcotic painkiller, to local youth for recreational use. Four individuals, including a pharmacy owner, were arrested after 12,500 tablets worth ₹3.7 lakh were seized along with a scooter.

Key Highlights Illegal sale of narcotics

• The gang was involved in selling Tapentadol tablets—used for pain relief—without a prescription, targeting drug-addicted youth in the Palakkarai area.

• Tablets were being sold at ₹350–400 each, nearly 10 times higher than the actual retail price of ₹57.

Arrests and recovery

• The arrested individuals include S Prakash (25), A Sanjay Kumar (22), S Indrani (50), and R Kothandapani (33), a pharmacy owner from Senthaneerpuram.

• Kothandapani was found hoarding 7,000 tablets of Tapentadol for illegal sale.

Modus operandi and misuse

• Youths reportedly mixed the tablets with intravenous solutions and injected the mixture for intoxication.

• Intoxicated individuals were found to engage in petty crimes, including waylaying and theft.

Statements from Leaders or Officials
 Palakkarai Inspector S Periyasamy said, “The gang had close ties with known drug peddlers. The pharmacy owner was under our radar as one of his contacts was arrested in a previous drug case. This operation has helped disrupt a growing problem.”The arrested individuals have been booked under Section 123 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for administering harmful substances, and Section 18(c) of The Drugs and Cosmetics Act. All four have been remanded in judicial custody. The case sheds light on the growing misuse of pharmaceutical drugs and reinforces the need for stricter surveillance on pharmacy operations.