Bengaluru: MDMA seizure cases involving students from Bengaluru are being reported more frequently. In a similar case, the excise department has busted a drug smuggling racket that used nursing students in Bengaluru as carriers.
Those arrested in the latest drug bust are Kadalikkatt Veettil KM Faisal Razi, 32, a native of Chelode near Chunda; Puthukkandi Veettil Muhammed Asnul Shaduli, 23, a native of Muttil near Kalpetta; Anjiliveettil Sobin Kuriakkose, 23, a native of Puthoorvayal, Kalpetta; Vettilappara Pallathupara Veettil P A Muhammed Bava, 22, a native of Kothamangalam; and Varikkunnu Delbil Shaji Joseph, 21, a native of Manimooli, Nilambur in Malappuram.
A team headed by Mananthavady Circle Inspector A. Prajith arrested five youths and seized 204 grams of MDMA from their car during a vehicle check at Bavali checkpost near Mananthavady on Tuesday evening. It was a combined operation of the Wayanad Excise Intelligence Investigation Bureau, a special squad under the Mananthavady Circle office, and the Bavaly checkpost team.
“We felt something fishy about the gang’s maneuver and checked the vehicle. Even though we quizzed them several times, the gangsters were adamant not to divulge any information. Later, after a prolonged search, our team members found the hidden substance,” said Circle Inspector Prajith.
The drug was concealed under the steering wheel of the car using insulation tape. They were heading to sell the drugs to college students in Vythiri and Kalpetta, as well as to tourists.
The agents lure them with a decent commission to act as carriers. “The agents procure the drug from Bengaluru and hand it over to the students who get a commission that they use to splurge in the city. In addition, if they are drug users, the students will get MDMA for themselves. Gradually, they become seasoned smugglers and addicts,” he said.
Delbin Shaji Joseph and Muhammed Bava are nursing students in Bengaluru, according to officials. Excise officials also seized the car they were traveling in.
Officers said the gang purchased MDMA for Rs 2 lakh from Bengaluru and were planning to sell it for Rs 4,000 per gram, which would have fetched them Rs 8.16 lakh. The arrested individuals were produced at Judicial First Class Magistrate Court-I at Mananthavady.
The excise team included excise preventive officers Johnny K, Jinosh PR, Anoop E, Ramachandran ATK, Ajayakumar KK, excise officers Prince G. Unnikrishnan, Sanoop K. S., and driver Shimjith P.
