Angamaly heroin traced to Myanmar as seizures near last year’s total

Kochi: The 609 grams of heroin seized in Angamaly on Monday originated in Myanmar, district police chief (Ernakulam Rural) KS Sudarshan said on Tuesday.Speaking at a press conference at the district police headquarters in Aluva, Sudarshan said the Angamaly seizure as one of the largest heroin busts in the state in recent times, with the contraband estimated to be worth up to Rs 1 crore in the market.Three individuals from Assam were arrested after driving from the state with the heroin concealed in their car. They were intercepted based on confidential information. Sudarshan added that an investigation is underway and more arrests are expected.The officer noted that police have already seized nearly as much heroin this year as in the entirety of last year. Around 680 grams of heroin have been recovered in the rural district so far in 2025.A total of 475 drug-related cases have been registered in the rural district this year, and 588 individuals have been arrested. These include 13 commercial-quantity cases, 24 medium-quantity cases, and 168 small-quantity cases.Ganja seizures too have been significant. Police have seized approximately 340 kilograms so far. The largest bust occurred in Angamaly last month, where 62 kilograms were found hidden in special compartments in the back seat of a luxury car, leading to two arrests. Other notable seizures include 51 kilograms recovered from a rented house in Vazhakulam, 32 kilograms seized from three migrant workers in Marampilly, and 30 kilograms found with five migrant workers in Puthenkurish. Smaller quantities were seized in Ayyampuzha, Mulamthuruthy, and Kalady.On the MDMA front, 765 grams have been seized this year, compared to 1,366 grams in all of last year. The largest haul was 550 grams recovered in Angamaly in April, smuggled from Bangaluru hidden inside a flask, resulting in two arrests. Smaller quantities were seized in Paravoor Kavala, Varapuzha, and Kalady. Police noted that most MDMA is being brought in from Bengaluru and that most of the arrested have been young people.