The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence seized Boobalan, a senior TVK functionary, in a raid at his Nagapattinam residence on 5 March 2024, citing evidence of 135 kg of methamphetamine bound for Sri Lanka. The raid came after intelligence reports flagged a suspicious shipment originating from the region.
Udhayanidhi Stalin took to X, slamming the ruling party’s drug‑policy rhetoric after the arrest. He blasted the party’s claim that it had “no involvement with drugs” and demanded that the National Investigation Agency and Enforcement Directorate launch a thorough probe. The opposition leader also accused the party of tacitly allowing the smuggling network.
The party’s spokesperson, M Sathya Kumar, confirmed Boobalan’s expulsion the same day the allegations surfaced. He said, "We act immediately when we learn of any wrongdoing by our members," and added that the party had removed a former DMK cadre, Jaffer Sadiq, in a similar case years ago.
Drug trafficking has surged in Tamil Nadu, becoming a headline issue ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. The incident feeds into voters’ fears that the ruling party is turning a blind eye to narcotics while campaigning on a platform of clean governance.
Officials from the NIA have been briefed on the case, and a joint investigation with the DRI is expected to commence next week. The party has pledged to cooperate fully, while the opposition continues to press for a public inquiry into potential links between the shipment and political insiders.