The Hindu : Kerala News : Crackdown on drug peddlers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 13, 2007
ePaper

Kerala

Kerala

Crackdown on drug peddlers

LAW &ORDER Law-enforcing agencies have intensified their operations against drug peddling in the city, writes Biju Govind.

The police have launched a crackdown on drug peddling following the death of two persons after using drugs and the drug seizure last week in Kozhikode.

Excise officials arrested one person from Bangladesh Colony in the city last week on the charges of possessing 100 gm. of heroin valued at Rs.10 lakh in the international market.

Excise officials said the seized materials were meant for retailers in the city and the suburbs. The seizure of heroin in such major quantity of heroin was a new development in the region, they said.

The Police on Thursday arrested K.Abdulrahiman and recovered from him 22.9 gm of brown sugar. On Wednesday, the police arrested two persons in separate operations and recovered 30 gm. of brown sugar from them. One of the accused S.K.Tulasidas, hailing from Perinthalmanna in Malappuram district, was nabbed from the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation bus station. Several packets containing 23 gm. of brown sugar were recovered from him.

The police say the accused had undergone jail term for drug trafficking in a case registered at the Kolathur police in Malappuram district.

They suspect that he is a wholesale dealer of drugs in north Kerala. His modus operandi is bringing drugs from Rajasthan on truckers transporting marbles, the police said.

Another person Abdul Gafoor hailing from Vengara in Malappuram district was arrested by the police from West Hill in the city. He was found in possession of seven grams of brown sugar. He was arrested after interrogating Tulasidas. A few years ago the city police had arrested him on charges of drug pedlling to Gulf countries.

A little more than a year ago the police had made a concerted effort in rooting out the menace of drug trafficking at Bangaldesh Colony.

But recent incidents prove that drug trafficking is not confined to the colony alone. The entire city has become a safe haven for drug peddlers.

The police say drug pushers have been linked to many crimes taking place in the city.

The distribution of ganja is rampant. But young drug addicts have shifted from ganja and its products to life endangering drugs such brown sugar, which are procured from markets outside the State. Most of the arrested persons in connection with drug peddling are habitual offenders.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail