CM Orders Police Medals for 15 Officers' Anti-Drug Trafficking Work

PRESS RELEASE HON'BLE TAMIL NADU CHIEF MINISTER ORDERS CHIEF MINISTER'S MEDAL AWARDED TO POLICE OFFICERS/PERSONNEL ON THE OCCASION OF INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST DRUG ABUSE AND ILLICIT TRAFFICKING, 2026 "Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's Police Medal for Outstanding work in eradicating the drug production and illicit trafficking in the State" are being awarded to the Police Officers/Personnel since 2023. The Hon'ble Tamil Nadu Chief Minister has awarded the said Medal for the year 2026 to the following Police officers/personnel:- Sl.No. Name, Rank & Serving unit (Tvl.) 1. Vivekananda Shukla, IPS, Superintendent of Police, Cuddalore District. 2. G. Chandeesh, IPS, Superintendent of Police, Ramanathapuram District. 3. S. Lakshmanan, Additional Superintendent of Police, NIB-CID, Chennai. 4. V. Manoj Kumar, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Anti-Narcotic Intelligence Unit, Intelligence Section, Greater Chennai Police. 5. M. Kannan, Inspector of Police, Central Intelligence Unit, Trichy Zone. 6. P. Kamaraj, Inspector of Police, Central Intelligence Unit, Coimbatore Zone. 7. M. Arun, Sub-Inspector of Police, Kurangani Police Station, Theni District. 8. K. Rajkumar, Head Constable -1868, Kumuly Police Station, Theni District. 9. G. Karthikeyan, Head Constable -348, Vettaikaraniruppu Police Station, Nagapattinam District. 10. A. Guthbudeen, Head Constable -1288, Kottaipattinam Police Station, Pudukottai District. 11. G. Ramar, Special Sub-Inspector of Police -973, Nallur Police Station, Tiruppur City. 12. M. Iyyappan, Head Constable -2244, Prohibition Enforcement Wing, Tirunelveli District. 13. N. Prem Kumar, Head Constable -46983, R3-Ashok Nagar, Law & Order Police Station, South Zone, Greater Chennai Police. 14. U.P. Senthilkumar, Special Sub-Inspector of Police -1138, Prohibition Enforcement Wing, Karur District. 15. C. Ramakrishnan, Head Constable -2120, NIB-CID, Theni Unit. The above medal awardees have performed the following special assignments:- 1. Thiru Vivekananda Shukla, IPS, Cuddalore District, who joined Indian Police Service on 28.12.2020, has displayed exceptional leadership in combating organized narcotics trafficking. While serving as Superintendent of Police in Ranipet District and subsequently in Thiruvallur District, he has supervised intelligence-driven operations resulting in the seizure of 903 kg of ganja, 575 grams of methamphetamine, 74.5 grams of MDMA, 55 grams of cocaine, and LSD blotter papers, leading to the arrest of 82 accused, including interstate traffickers and foreign nationals. Through meticulous supervision, inter-state intelligence gathering, technical analysis, and sustained investigations, he dismantled organized drug networks operating across State and international boundaries, making a significant contribution to public safety and narcotics control. 2. Thiru G. Chandeesh, IPS, who joined Indian Police Service on 17.12.2018, has been serving as Superintendent of Police, Ramanathapuram District, since 12.01.2024. He has rendered outstanding service in combating narcotics. Through effective legal guidance, scientific investigation, and extensive awareness campaigns, he significantly reduced drug-related offences in the district. Since 2024, 347 NDPS cases were registered, 640 offenders were arrested, and large quantities of contrabands, including ganja, methamphetamine, and ganja oil were seized. His proactive enforcement led to the detention of major offenders under the Goondas Act, culminating in the record seizure of 542 kg of ganja in 2025, the largest recovery in the State. 3. Thiru S. Lakshmanan, Additional Superintendent of Police, NIB CID, has rendered outstanding service in narcotics enforcement since 18.12.2023. He was directly recruited as Sub-Inspector of Police in 1996 and has played a key role in detecting and seizing large quantities of narcotic drugs, dismantling trafficking networks, and guiding complex NDPS investigations. His expertise in intelligence analysis and technical investigation has led to the arrest of major offenders and significant drug seizures. He facilitated destruction of 51,000 kgs of narcotics and auction of 193 vehicles. His extensive anti-drug awareness initiatives have greatly strengthened public awareness and prevention efforts. 4. Thiru V. Manojkumar, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Intelligence Section, Greater Chennai Police, has rendered outstanding service in combating narcotic crimes through intelligence-based operations. He facilitated detection of 113 NDPS cases, leading to seizure of large quantities of ganja, methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, LSD, MDMA and other narcotic substances, along with substantial cash proceeds. His efforts resulted in the arrest of 574 drug offenders, including inter-state traffickers, and the dismantling of two clandestine drug manufacturing laboratories at Kodungaiyur and Aruppukottai. His dedication, professional competence, and effective intelligence work have significantly strengthened anti-drug enforcement and public safety. 5. Thiru M. Kannan, Inspector of Police, Central Intelligence Unit, Trichy Zone, has rendered outstanding service in preventing prohibition and narcotics offences. Through sustained intelligence gathering and enforcement, he played a pivotal role in detecting an illegal Mephedrone manufacturing laboratory in Tiruvarur District, leading to the arrest of four accused and seizure of narcotic drugs, precursor chemicals, vehicles, and laboratory equipment worth about ₹41 crores in the international market. He also detected a narcotic tablet trafficking case in Pudukkottai District. 6. Thiru P. Kamaraj, Inspector of Police, Central Intelligence Unit, Coimbatore Zone, has rendered outstanding service in combating narcotics and prohibition offences since 21.01.2025. Through effective intelligence gathering and supervision, he detected major narcotic cases, including seizure of 557.380 kg of ganja, 243 grams of methamphetamine, and 10 grams of opium, leading to numerous arrests. He also played a key role in uncovering and preventing large-scale rectified spirit smuggling, resulting in the seizure of 44,204 litres. Under his leadership, 832 narcotic and prohibition cases were detected. 7. Thiru M. Arun was recruited as Grade-II Police Constable on 01.11.2017 and later as Sub-Inspector of Police on 01.03.2023. He is presently serving at Kurangani Police Station and has been deputed to the Special Team since 02.09.2024. During 2025, he seized 49 kg of ganja from a notorious long-time supplier in Theni District. He arrested 50 NDPS accused and seized 312 kg of ganja. 8. Thiru K. Rajkumar was recruited as Grade II Police Constable on 18.02.2013 and presently serves as Head Constable at Kumuly Police Station, Theni District, from 01.04.2022. He has rendered outstanding service in combating drug trafficking through advanced digital investigation, data analysis, and technical support. During 2025, his analysis of CDR led to the arrest of 50 accused involved in 29 NDPS cases, and the seizure of 312 kg of ganja. His timely intelligence and analysis of mobile tower-location enabled the apprehension of major inter-state suppliers. 9. Thiru G. Karthikeyan, Head Constable, enlisted as Grade-II Police Constable in 2011, is now serving at Vettaikaraniruppu Police Station, Nagapattinam District. On 09.01.2026, during a vehicle check at Pudupalli Main Road, he intercepted a suspicious Innova car that attempted to flee, apprehended one accused, and seized 220 kg of ganja. 10. Thiru A. Guthpudeen, Head Constable of Kottaipattinam Police Station, has been serving in Pudukkottai District since 01.11.2016 and is a member of a special team functioning under the Superintendent of Police, Pudukottai District. He played a significant role in the seizure of 110 kg of ganja, 200 kg of gutka, drug tablets, and Kerala lottery tickets, besides assisting in the recovery of 687 sovereigns of stolen gold. He played a key role in the arrest of over 100 offenders. 11. Thiru G. Ramar, SSI, joined Tamil Nadu Police as a Grade II Police Constable on 24.05.1999 and was promoted as Special Sub-Inspector of Police on 01.06.2024. Presently serving at Nallur Police Station in Tiruppur City, he played a key role in seizing 17.5 kg of ganja from an accused from Andhra Pradesh and was instrumental in registering 14 cases leading to the seizure of about 40 kg of ganja. 12. Thiru M. Ayyappan, Head Constable serving in the Prohibition Enforcement Wing, Tirunelveli, has been actively involved in curbing ganja trafficking and narcotic offences across Tirunelveli District. During 2025, he played a key role in detecting 15 NDPS and Prohibition cases, leading to the seizure of approximately 36 kilograms of ganja. 13. Thiru N. Prem Kumar, Head Constable, joined Tamil Nadu Police as a Grade-II Police Constable on 01.02.2011 and presently serves at R-3 Ashok Nagar Police Station, Greater Chennai Police. He played a key role in arresting three accused and seizing methamphetamine and other case properties worth ₹3.58 lakhs. 14. Thiru U.P. Senthil Kumar, SSI, joined the Police Department as Grade-II Police Constable on 24.05.1999 and presently serves in the Prohibition Enforcement Wing, Karur District, from 22.07.2024. He contributed to the seizure of 9.775 kg of ganja in multiple cases, besides seizing illicit liquor and IMFL. He also assisted in the disposal of 53,917 kg of cannabis seized in 199 cases, and actively participated in 256 anti-drug awareness programmes. 15. Thiru C. Ramakrishnan, Head Constable, is serving in the Narcotics Intelligence Wing in Theni District and has rendered outstanding service in court-related matters, playing a vital role in securing convictions in numerous NDPS cases. Through his dedicated efforts, 35 cases involving 59 accused were convicted, resulting in imprisonment sentences and fines totalling about ₹50.89 lakh. He also traced and apprehended absconding accused in long-pending cases. These Medals will be presented by the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on the occasion of Independence Day Celebration, 2026. *********** Issued By: - DIPR, Secretariat, Chennai – 9