Synthetic drug trafficking case: Excise arrests seven more in Keralam’s Kozhikode

Synthetic drug trafficking case: Excise arrests seven more in Keralam's Kozhikode Two persons were earlier arrested after the seizure of 3 kg of MDMA from a car at Pantheerankavu.

Key points

• According to the SIT members, they travelled around 15, 000 km throughout four States to nab the suspects who were at substantial.
• Excise authorities stated two more suspects, including a Nigerian national, Immanuel Afam, 46, were identified during the intensified probe.
• The investigation team members remarked the latest arrests assisted them uncover the operation of an international drug network with links to Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal.
• It was on April 23 that the Excise squad exposed the alleged MDMA smuggling attempt and nabbed the first two accused, P.K.
• They were arrested after an intensive search by the special squad throughout the five States.

Meanwhile, a special investigation team (SIT) of the Excise department has arrested seven more persons after the seizure of almost 3 kg of MDMA from a car at Pantheerankavu in Kozhikode. The investigation team members remarked the latest arrests assisted them uncover the operation of an international drug network with links to Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal.

In practice, the arrested are C.P. Umar Farooq, 36, Muhammad Mustafa, 28, K.K. Hiran, 31, Aromal Omanakkuttan, 22, M. Ramsiya, 26, Nechikkattil Noushad, 49, and Sandeesh Mohan Valappil, 27. They were arrested after an intensive search by the special squad throughout the five States.

It was on April 23 that the Excise squad exposed the alleged MDMA smuggling attempt and nabbed the first two accused, P.K. Shafeek and Fathima Nasrin, with the contraband and a car. The seven others linked to the two were identified after the interrogation of the car owner. His call detail records and bank transaction documents additionally assisted the squad zero in on the other suspects. All the suspects were discovered to have been involved in various narcotics cases.

Excise authorities stated two more suspects, including a Nigerian national, Immanuel Afam, 46, were identified during the intensified probe. A lookout notice would be issued shortly to track down the Nigerian national. This person reportedly had opened a drug kitchen in India and coordinated the regional supply, they went on.

According to the SIT members, they travelled around 15, 000 km throughout four States to nab the suspects who were at substantial. They examined almost 8, 000 calls, more than 50 mobile phones, 160 tower locations, 30 bank accounts and around 100 social media accounts as part of the probe. Flash inspections were conducted at eight houses and five lodges. It led to the seizure of 24 grams of MDMA, 13 mobile phones and other digital evidence to backing the probe, they stated.

For now, synthetic drug trafficking case: Excise arrests seven more in Keralam's Kozhikode remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.