In a raid conducted by the excise officials lead by assistant deputy commissioner N S Salimkumar, 140 kg of ganja was seized from a cardamom estate at Kurungupara near Rajakkad in Idukki district on Saturday. The main accused Pulickal Saji Chacko was absconding, said Excise deputy commissioner C M Shanavas.
He said that Saji Chacko was a main link in the inter-state narcotic business. The initial inquiry proved that the narcotic item was brought from Andhra Pradesh to sell it as ganja from Idukki which has high demand. The ganja was found concealed in a 300 litre synthetic tank buried in the estate. He said that it was doubted that more persons were involved in the racket. The raid was conducted on a tip off the excise department received. Search has been intensified to arrest the main accused, Mr Shanavas said.
