Drugs worth ₹30 cr seized

Biggest ever drug bust in State; 2 Palakkad natives held

In what is regarded as the biggest ever drug bust in the State, the Enforcement and Anti-Narcotic Special Squad of the Excise Department on Saturday seized 5.2 kg of methylene dioxy methamphetamine (MDMA) worth around ₹30 crore in the international market and arrested two youths in this connection.

The arrested have been identified as Abdul Salam, 34, and Faizal, 35, both natives of Palakkad. Acting on a tip-off, officials intercepted their car at Athani, near the international airport at Nedumbassery.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the duo was on their way to hand over the drug consignment, concealed in two trolley bags, to a person set to board a flight to Kuwait from here. The drug packets were wrapped using two layers of carbon paper to evade screening at the airport.

According to P.K. Manoharan, Joint Excise Commissioner, the duo were working as carriers on behalf of Bhai, a Keralite who runs a drug network in Kuwait through the social media accounts including WhatsApp and Facebook.

“Acting on a direction from Bhai, they collected the drug consignment from the Palakkad railway station and reached Kochi. The kingpin of the racket has been identified though more evidence is required to confirm his whereabouts,” he said.

Long trail

The excise sleuths had been tracking down the racket’s operation for the last couple of months, following the arrest of one Clement, a native of Vypeen, by the Kuwaiti police on drug peddling charges.

Officials are examining whether the contraband, reported to have procured from Kabul in Afghanistan, was for distribution among groups having terror links. “The duo is suspected to have carried the contraband on behalf of the racket for at least 10 times before this. Among them, Faizal too has some Kuwait connections as he had worked there for nearly 10 years,’’ the officer said.

The duo will be produced before the court on Sunday.

While one gram of MDMA costs ₹15,000 in the Indian market, it is sold double the price internationally.

“This is precisely why they are eyeing the international market. At the same time, a probe is on to trace whether they have established a market within the country,’’ Mr. Manoharan added.

Meanwhile, the Excise Commissioner gave ₹25,000 reward for the special squad led by Circle Inspector Saji Lakshman.