High-profile clients on city drug racket list, say police

Kochi: Police investigating the racket supplying drugs to high-end parties in the city has found that client roster of prime accused Kevin B Mathew included high-profile persons, including doctors and entertainment professionals. Police say the racket used to make contact with high-profile clients at DJ parties and later sell contraband to them.Mathew has been remanded in judicial custody after interrogation on Thursday. Police questioned him for three days relating to his drug deals. According to a senior officer, he and others connected to the racket used to frequent DJ parties."The accused used to target frequent partygoers to build a client list of high-profile persons. As per our investigation, the customers included doctors, lawyers, professionals and those working in the media and entertainment sector. They also supplied drugs for parties held on cruise vessels," said an officer, adding that people from various sectors are consuming the drugs, especially relating to parties.The officer added that they have received leads regarding the accused based in Bengaluru and Delhi who used to supply drugs to Mathew's racket."We are verifying the leads that we have received. In many cases, end users of the product are rarely found with any significant quantity of the drugs, leading to them getting bail. Apart from cracking down on users, we are targeting those in the higher levels of supply chain to root out such rackets," said an officer.It was the arrest of eight people with various drugs from a luxury hotel in Kadavanthra on March 28 that blew the lid off Mathew's racket. The rave party was held in a star hotel room attended by professionals, including a businessman, a dentist, a lawyer and a nutritionist. Drugs including ecstasy, cocaine, methamphetamine and hybrid ganja were found on them.Investigation into the source of the drugs used at the party led police to Mathew. He was caught by city police with 183.55g of MDMA and 93.51g of ecstasy pills in Thrikkakara Vazhakala.Following his arrest, police collected records of Mathew's financial transactions and phone call details. His records of international travel were also under the lens since he was learned to be supplying hybrid ganja as well, along with various synthetic drugs.Police also arrested Siyad, 42, and Adil Ansar, 24, who were linked to the racket, with 6.79g of MDMA and 56.98g of ganja. They were close associates of Mathew.Palluruthy native P M Shameer and his friend Siddique were also arrested as part of the probe. They are alleged to have procured at least 50g of MDMA from Mathew.Police said DJ parties going on at multiple locations in the city have been found to be a space frequented by those linked to such rackets.According to sources, users of drugs like MDMA are mostly not addicts but those who use it as a party drug. "They use it occasionally, like every few weeks, while attending a party. The drug is preferred by such people since it is a stimulant. It allows them to stay awake, energetic and highly sociable for hours without experiencing the immediate, heavy physical crash associated with depressants or alcohol," said a source.A warning issued by police last week to reassert the time limit for DJ parties should also be seen in this backdrop. Police issued a notice last week that all such programmes must conclude by 11pm.