Rural police turn up heat on drug traffickers

1,582 cases registered in first 10 months of this year under NDPS Act; 1,739 persons arrested

The Ernakulam Rural police have stepped up the heat on drug trafficking under their ongoing Operation Clean as the number of cases registered and arrests continue to mount.

In the 10 months between January and October this year, the police registered 1,582 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and arrested 1,739 persons. Around 200 kg of ganja was seized during the period. Of this, 100 kg were seized from within the Thadiyittaparambu police station limits, and 11 persons were arrested. Around 2.50 kg of MDMA was also seized during the period.

In June, a woman, identified as Sarmeen Akhtar, was arrested allegedly with over 1 kg of MDMA. She was accused of smuggling in by train drugs worth over ₹50 lakh by concealing them in a heater. She was nabbed at the Aluva railway station.

Another 300 grams of MDMA was seized from Kalady, and three persons were arrested in that connection. The accused had allegedly smuggled in the drug worth over ₹20 lakh from Bengaluru by car only to be intercepted and chased down by the police.

A woman and another two were arrested allegedly with 200 grams of MDMA at Angamaly. The police had chased them down at TB Junction at Angamaly. They had reportedly procured the drug from Bengaluru.

In a special drive conducted on the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, 375 grams of MDMA was seized in two separate incidents, and two persons were arrested. Thirteen ganja plants were also seized.

Nearly 200 grams of heroin worth around ₹20 lakh was seized from a three-member group from Assam. They had attempted to smuggle in the contraband in boxes used to keep soap. They had allegedly smuggled in the drug by train up to Thrissur from where they had reached Kalady by bus. The ploy was ostensibly meant to give the police the slip. Incidentally, this was one of the biggest heroin seizures in recent times.

Seventy-seven grams of hashish oil, 170 grams of brown sugar, seven grams of methamphetamine, and 1,275 ganja beedis were also seized during the period.

The rural police arrested nine persons under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PITNDPS) Act. Apart from enforcement measures, social media campaigns were also being organised against substance abuse, said Vaibhav Saxena, District Police Chief (Ernakulam Rural).

Published - November 28, 2024 01:23 am IST