Kerala - Kochi   

Major drug haul in city

Staff Reporter

Drugs valued at Rs.8 lakhs seized; two held

KOCHI: In a major breakthrough in its fight against drug abuse, the City Police on Thursday arrested two persons and seized drugs worth Rs.8 lakhs from West Kochi.

Faizal, 28, Vakayil House, Nambiapuram, Palluruthy and Navas, also known as Biju, 30, Chirayilparambil Veedu, SDPY Road, Palluruthy were arrested with 2,050 ampoules of buprenorphine, a potent analgesic used for severe cases of cancer affliction, K. Padmakumar, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Ernakulam Range, told mediapersons here.

Based on a tip-off, a police team led by K. Laljy, Circle Inspector, Palluruthy approached Navas who had stored the drug. Police personnel disguised as customers made him take them to the first accused.

On interrogation, the accused confessed that they took the stock from Red Fort in New Delhi.

The City Police have alerted their counterparts in Delhi.

The police have also launched a comprehensive investigation into the network used by the duo to sell the drugs, said Mr. Padmakumar.

The department also presented Mr. Laljy and his team members — police constables Rajesh, Baburaj Panicker, Saju and Satyan — a cash reward of Rs. 2,000.

The police have launched a two-pronged strategy to counter the drug menace in West Kochi, said P. Vijayan, City Police Commissioner.

Along with strict enforcement of anti-drug laws, the force is also conducting rehabilitation and awareness drives against drug abuse in the region, Mr. Vijayan said.

Efforts are also being taken to control the inflow of drugs from other States.

Earlier, the peddlers used to purchase drugs from Mumbai. This was stopped after the police there cracked down on drug peddlers.

Now they have shifted base to New Delhi, pointed out Mr. Vijayan.

Even though the drug is brought by train, it is impossible to detect unless the force gets specific information, he said.

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