Six persons arrested in anti-narcotics raid

Kochi: A joint anti-narcotics raid was conducted in Kochi city by multiple enforcement agencies, leading to registration of five cases and arrest of six persons on Wednesday.The operation was carried out jointly by Kochi city police, excise department, narcotics control bureau (NCB) and dog squad as part of intensified efforts to curb use and sale of narcotic substances in the city. Authorities said locations suspected to be used for storing drugs intended for distribution were specifically identified and raided.During the operation, 13.27g of MDMA was seized from Jithin D'Cruz, 32, of Palluruthy. He was held near Premier Junction in Kalamassery.In another major seizure, 202g of MDMA was recovered from Star Homes in Tripunithura. Akshay, 29, of Maradu and Reshma, 34, of Vengoor, Thiruvananthapuram, were arrested in connection with the case.The arrested were produced before court and remanded.Migrant worker held with 4kg of ganjaA migrant worker was arrested for allegedly possessing four kilograms of ganja in Kuruppampady near Perumbavoor on Wednesday.The accused was identified as Rabbul Islam, 23, of Nagaon in Assam. He was arrested by a special investigation team led by Perumbavoor ASP, along with officers from Kuruppampady police.Police said the accused was under surveillance for the past few days following inputs about sale of narcotics in the region. According to police, Islam resided in Kuruppampady for nearly a year after taking a rented room in the area. During this period, he allegedly engaged in sale of ganja by packing it into small packets and selling them for around Rs 500 each.Preliminary investigation revealed that the contraband was sourced from Odisha and transported to the area for distribution. Police suspect that the accused supplied the narcotic substance in small quantities to local users and workers in and around the town.Officials said further investigation is under way to ascertain whether others were involved in the supply chain and to identify source of the drug. Efforts are also being made to trace possible links to larger interstate drug trafficking networks.Police registered a case under relevant provisions of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The accused was produced before court and remanded.