Chennai Police move to ban Grindr App over links to drug peddling network

IANS April 10, 2025 341 views

Chennai Police are taking aggressive steps to combat synthetic drug trafficking by targeting the Grindr app as a potential communication platform for criminals. The investigation has already led to the arrest of eight foreign nationals, primarily from Nigeria, who are suspected of being part of an international drug network. Authorities have seized significant quantities of methamphetamine and other narcotics, demonstrating the scale of their ongoing crackdown. The police are now coordinating with multiple agencies to dismantle the drug supply chain and investigate potential visa violations.

"In five out of ten recent drug cases, Grindr was found to be the medium through which traffickers communicated with clients" - Senior Police Officer
Chennai, April 10: Chennai Police Commissioner A. Arun has initiated action to suspend or ban Grindr, a popular dating and social networking app for the LGBTQ+ community, after a probe revealed its alleged use as a communication channel in synthetic drug trafficking cases.

Key Points

1

Chennai Police investigating Grindr's role in synthetic drug trafficking

2

21.9 kg methamphetamine seized in eight months

3

Eight foreign nationals arrested in major drug operation

The Commissioner has written to the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), the country’s nodal agency for cybersecurity incidents, requesting regulatory intervention against the global platform.

“In five out of ten recent drug cases, Grindr was found to be the medium through which traffickers communicated with clients,” a senior police officer stated.

Joint Commissioner of Police (East) P. Vijayakumar emphasised the Greater Chennai Police’s commitment to eradicating narcotics, particularly synthetic drugs.

He noted that the Anti-Narcotics Intelligence Unit (ANIU), formed in August 2024, has made significant progress in this direction.

According to official data, Chennai Police have seized 21.9 kg of methamphetamine in the last eight months. Two major drug busts in the Anna Salai and Triplicane areas recently led to the arrest of eight foreign nationals - seven Nigerian citizens and one Sudanese national - suspected to be part of an international drug ring.

“Most of the synthetic drugs circulating in the city are being sourced from other states,” said the JCP.

Follow-up investigations in Bengaluru and other locations helped police apprehend the foreign nationals connected to the Chennai operations. So far, 17 individuals have been arrested in the two cases - seven from Tamil Nadu, with the rest being from other Indian states and foreign countries.

Seizures from the operations include 36.5 grams of methamphetamine, two grams of heroin, 5.3 grams of OG (high-grade) ganja, and other narcotics.

Police are also coordinating with immigration and intelligence agencies to investigate potential visa violations by the foreign nationals.

“We will be recommending further action if these individuals are found guilty of overstaying or misusing their visas,” an officer added.

Authorities are seeking custody of the arrested suspects for further interrogation. Investigators hope to identify the supply chains, storage locations, and other individuals involved in the drug network.

Preliminary findings suggest that some of the narcotics originated from Myanmar, while several suspects claimed their suppliers were based in Nigeria.

The arrested foreign nationals have been identified as Christopher Oluchukwa, Samir Salah Nouraldeen, Etim Antigha, Effiong Etim, Sheu Adeleke, Chigemezel Nwune, Ogoegbunem, and Benard Oknkwo Juel.

As investigations continue, the Greater Chennai Police are intensifying their crackdown on synthetic drugs and are exploring digital and international avenues used by traffickers to target local users.

Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
This is a serious issue that needs addressing, but banning the app entirely seems extreme. Many LGBTQ+ folks rely on Grindr for safe social connections. Can't police just monitor suspicious activity instead? 🏳️‍🌈
P
Priya M.
Shocking to see how drug peddlers exploit every possible platform! Good job by Chennai police for uncovering this network. Hope they find all the suppliers too.
A
Arjun S.
The article mentions international connections - this shows how organized these drug networks are. Maybe we need better cyber monitoring across all dating apps, not just Grindr.
S
Sneha R.
While I appreciate the police efforts, I'm concerned about potential profiling of the LGBTQ+ community. The focus should be on criminals, not the platform they misuse.
K
Karthik N.
21.9 kg of meth is terrifying! These synthetic drugs are destroying lives. Whatever methods work to stop this trade, I support them. Stay strong Chennai Police! 💪
M
Meena P.
Respectful criticism: The article could have included perspectives from LGBTQ+ advocacy groups about how this ban might affect their community. It's important to consider all sides.
V
Vikram J.
The international drug connections are worrying. Hope our cyber security teams can work with global agencies to track these networks better. Good reporting on the details!

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Your email won't be published

Tags:
Chennai Police Grindr App Drug Trafficking Synthetic Drugs LGBTQ+ App Cybercrime Nigerian Nationals
You May Like!