Three drug peddlers were arrested at Ammundi railway station near Ranipet town on Sunday for possession of 96 kg of ganja worth around ₹80 lakh.

The arrested persons were identified as G. Rajesh, 40, S. Moideen, 36, and H. Naveen Kumar, 26. They were friends and residents of Arcot town. Initial inquiry revealed that based on orders of Superintendent of Police P. Sibin, special teams were formed in the district aimed at a crackdown on drug trafficking.

Following an alert, police personnel from Ranipet Town police were checking the trains at the railway station when they intercepted the gang of three. Subsequently, the police checked their bags and found ganja.

Cases were registered and the arrested persons were lodged at Central Prison in Vellore. The police also said that strict action would be taken against those smuggling drugs into the State. It was found that the seized ganja was meant to be sold in retail among workers in industrial sites in the region and Puducherry. A probe is under way.