A Sri Lankan  was held for allegedly possessing suspected narcotic substance at Thethakudi near Vedaranyam in Nagapattinam district on Sunday.

The 36-year-old Sri Lankan  D.Albert Cruz (36) had come as a refugee from the island nation in 1989 and had been staying outside the refugee camp in Nagapattinam district since then. Based on information, a police party caught Albert Cruz, who was found in possession of packets containing white coloured powdery substance, weighing about 800 grams, outside his house. The seized substance would be sent to the laboratory at Chennai to ascertain its kind, police sources said. Albert Cruz reportedly told the police that the substance was given to him by Lankan Tamils who had asked him to keep it in his possession. The Vedaranyam police are investigating. (The Hindu)