In yet another major anti-narcotics action recorded by law enforcement agencies in the capital, Excise officials arrested three persons, including a Tamil Nadu native, with alleged possession of 6.40 kg of hashish oil on Saturday.
The accused, Antony, 39, of Thoothukudi, Benoy Thomas, 44, and Gopi, 68, of Thakamani in Idukki, were apprehended by a team led by Excise Circle Inspector T. Anikumar. They busted a suspected transaction for the potent drug while it took place near a textile store along the Attakulangara-Enchakkal bypass.
Two high-end cars, which were allegedly used by the parties, and cash amounting to ₹6.70 lakh were also confiscated by the Excise team. According to Mr. Anikumar, the purported transaction was finalised in Idukki a day ago. They allegedly intended to hand the contraband over to a Maldivian national, identified as Abdullah, to be smuggled from the country.
“Antony, who came to Thiruvananthapuram to accept the contraband, is suspected to have operated as a middleman in many such drug trades. He had planned to hand over ₹6.70 lakh to the Idukki natives as advance for the deal. The remaining amount would have been paid after ascertaining the quality of the drug. The large quantity of the drug is believed to be worth around ₹6 crore in the global black market,” the officer said.
The gang also had an alternative plan to smuggle the substance through the Thoothukudi port, if their original scheme was foiled, using certain contacts of Antony who used to work in an exporting company at the port. Abdullah, who managed to evade arrest so far, was suspected to be in Tamil Nadu, sources said.
The development came in the wake of roughly 35 kg of hashish oil being seized in the city in recent times. Among those arrested in the cases were four Maldivian nationals.
Incidentally, the team led by Mr. Anikumar had seized 10.202 kg of hashish oil worth ₹10.5 crore during a raid three months ago. More recently, they had seized 700 grams of hashish oil and around 500 narcotic tablets a week ago.
