Financier arrested in MDMA haul case

Kochi:

Excise

crime branch probing the

MDMA

seizure case arrested Deepesh of Karaparambu in

Kozhikode

–one of the main accused who was funding drug smuggling– on Monday night. The team found that he was involved in several financial transactions with the other accused in the case.

CB will seek the custody of Deepesh, who is in judicial custody, after collecting more details about his involvement. Excise officers said transactions worth Rs 32 lakhs happened through his bank accounts and most of the money was sent to the five accused who were arrested earlier. He was arraigned as an accused under various sections of the NDPS Act.

“We suspect that he had a key role in the smuggling network and was one of the funders. He is a close friend of the key accused and had given money several times knowing that it would be used for drug purchase and smuggling. He earned a lot of money as commission. We are questioning more persons and more arrests will be made in coming days,” said a senior officer of the team.

On Sept 14, CB arrested Shifan Taj (23) of Amballoor on charges of making financial transactions with the accused. Excise will seek his custody too. But, the suppliers of MDMA in Chennai are yet to be traced. Though their phone numbers were traced, the SIMs were purchased using fake ID cards.

Meanwhile, forest team probing the seizure of a deer antler from the accused, recorded the arrest of five persons, who are in judicial custody at Kakkanad jail. Kodanad forest range officer recorded the arrest of Sreemon, Shamna and Mohammed Fabas of Kozhikode, Ajmal of Kasaragod, and Mohammed Afsal of Ernakulam in the case registered under Wildlife Protection Act. Forest department will seek their custody soon