“Breaking Bad” Chennai edition: College students arrested for running meth lab out of home

In a shocking incident, seven students in Chennai were arrested by the Tamil Nadu Police for allegedly operating a methamphetamine laboratory out of a residential property in the Kodungaiyur area. According to The Times of India, the group included four robotics engineering graduates and one MSc chemistry student, all of whom were reportedly cooking meth in a makeshift lab.

The Anti-Drug Intelligence Unit (ADIU) raided the location after receiving a tip-off, uncovering 250 grams of methamphetamine, along with laboratory equipment, raw chemicals and apparatus. Items seized included mobile phones, chemical weighing machines, glass jars, and a range of scientific instruments such as test tubes, pipettes, and burettes.

The accused, identified as Fleming Francis, 21; Naveen, 22; Pravin Pranav, 21; Kishore, 21; Gnanapandian, 22; Arunkumar, 22; and Dhanush, 23, have been taken into judicial custody. Police believe the group was supplying meth to a larger criminal syndicate and are investigating the extent of their operation.

While the students’ families claimed they were working on academic research, further investigations revealed the illegal activities inside one of the rooms. Police suspect that Gnanapandian, with his chemistry expertise, played a key role in manufacturing the drugs, while the others sourced chemicals and equipment from pharmaceutical firms and online suppliers.

Authorities are continuing their investigation, with the newly-formed ADIU focusing on curbing synthetic drug production in the city.