Man held with MDMA and hashish oil

Kochi: Ernakulam excise enforcement and anti-narcotic special squad on Wednesday arrested a 29-year-old man from Malappuram after a large quantity of synthetic drugs was seized during a vehicle inspection. The accused, identified as Suhail Rashid of Angadipuram near Perinthalmanna, was found in possession of 142g of MDMA and 3.074g of hashish oil. Of this, 48g of MDMA was recovered from him at Palluruthy. The car used by the accused was also seized. During interrogation, excise officials learned that he was staying at a hotel in Edappally. A follow-up search at the hotel led to recovery of an additional 94.23g of MDMA and around 4g of hashish oil. Officials also seized a digital weighing scale used for measuring the drugs and an iPhone from his possession. According to excise authorities, the accused is part of a network trafficking drugs from Malappuram to Kochi. Information about the supplier has also been obtained, and further arrests are expected. The operation was led by excise anti-narcotics special squad circle inspector Ranjith Kumar. Police and excise have been making multiple seizures of synthetic drugs, as the officials were on high alert relating to the elections. One of the most high-profile seizures occurred on March 28, when drugs including hybrid ganja, MDMA, methamphetamine, cocaine and ecstasy pills were seized from a five-star hotel in Kadavanthara. As many as eight youngsters, including three women, were arrested in the case. Rural police also seized over 550g of MDMA valued at lakhs. The accused purchased narcotics in Bangalore and travelled by bike to Vaniyampara. They then continued in a taxi car towards Kochi for sale but were intercepted and taken into custody at Angamaly.