Chennai Students Caught Running ‘Breaking Bad’-Style Meth Lab At Home

In a shocking revelation that echoes the infamous television series “Breaking Bad,” seven students were apprehended in Chennai’s Kodungaiyur area for allegedly running a methamphetamine lab out of a residential home. This significant drug bust has raised concerns about the growing involvement of youth in illegal drug production.

According to reports, the Tamil Nadu Police acted on a tip-off that led to a raid on Wednesday. The authorities discovered the group producing methamphetamine in a makeshift lab set up in one of the home’s rooms. Initially, the students’ parents claimed their children were engaged in academic research, but the investigation quickly revealed the truth behind the operation.

Among those arrested, four individuals were recent graduates in robotics engineering, while one was pursuing a master’s degree in chemistry. The accused students have been identified as Fleming Francis (21), Naveen (22), Pravin Pranav (21), Kishore (21), Gnanapandian (22), Arunkumar (22), and Dhanush (23). The involvement of such educated youths in drug manufacturing has sent shockwaves through the community.

Discovery Of The Meth Lab

The Anti-Drug Intelligence Unit (ADIU) conducted the raid and confiscated 250 grams of methamphetamine, alongside various laboratory equipment and raw chemicals stored in glass jars. These included a chemical weighing machine, test tubes, pipettes, and burettes—typical apparatus utilized in the production of illicit drugs. This find underscores the alarming level of sophistication involved in the students’ operation.

A police official shared insights into the investigation, stating, “We are looking into how long they have been involved in this operation. While Gnanapandian knew chemistry, the others sourced chemicals and equipment from pharmaceutical companies and online platforms.” The inquiry aims to uncover whether the students were part of a larger drug syndicate, potentially supplying methamphetamine to criminal networks.

Crackdown On Synthetic Drug Production

The arrests are part of a larger initiative to combat synthetic drug production in Chennai, with the newly formed ADIU intensifying its efforts to stem the tide of illegal substances in the region. Authorities are diligently working to ascertain if additional individuals are implicated in this operation.

Following their arrest, the seven suspects have been remanded to judicial custody as the investigation continues. The incident raises critical questions about the challenges posed by drug-related activities among educated youth and the need for comprehensive awareness and prevention strategies.

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