Drug trade: 15-year RI for two at Vadakara

The Special Court [Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act cases] at Vadakara here on Friday awarded 15 years’ rigorous imprisonment to two persons, one of them a woman, in connection with the seizure of psychotropic substances from them four years ago. A fine of Rs.2 lakh each was also imposed on them.

V. Vijayakumar, judge, found Lissie, 38, Nenmeni, Wayanad and Finnus,30, Kaithakunnel, Wayanad, guilty under Section 21 (c) (punishment for contravention in relation to manufactured drugs and preparations) and Section 29 (punishment for abetment and criminal conspiracy) of the NDPS Act.

If the accused failed to pay the fine, they would have to undergo additional two years in prison, the court said. The police had arrested the accused from Sultan Bathery in Wayanad district on December 31, 2009.

They were transporting the drugs in an autorickshaw from Kozhikode to Wayanad district.

The Sultan Bathery police recovered 90 ampules of Phenergan (Promethazine), 650 ampoules of Buprenorphine and 140 ampoules of Diazepam from them. The drugs were kept in a bag in the auto.

However, the court exonerated Shahjahan alias Shaji, 38, Cheeral, who was named third accused in the case, from all charges.