5kg ganja seized in Malappuram, two arrested

MALAPPURAM: In a major haul, excise authorities seized 5kg ganja from a gang at Pulikkal on Wednesday night. They also arrested two persons including a 71-year old woman, in connection with the smuggling of narcotic substance.
The arrested have been identified as Noorjahan, 71, native of Vadakkumthara in Palakkad district and Mattanath Rafi, 44, native of Vengara in Malappuram.Excise team from Malappuram range office has also seized an autorickshaw and currency of Rs 25,700, in connection with the incident.
According to the excise authorities, Noorjahan was smuggling the substance from Dindigul in Tamil Nadu by train and she was taken into custody from Periyambalam on NH 213, when she was travelling from Feroke railway station to Kondotty in an autorickshaw around 8pm.
Nooorjahan, who is an accused in many similar cases registered in Tamil Nadu and various police stations in Kerala, was under scanner of police for last many months. She had been arrested by Kambam police six months ago was bailed out recently. Noorjahan was also accused in a case related to seizure of ganja from Tirur in the district two years ago.
According to excise officials, Noorjahan and Rafi are part of an inter-state ganja smuggling racket, which has strong presence in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Noorjahan came into contact with Rafi when she was jailed in Kozhikode months ago and they were active in smuggling the substance for retail distribution among students and youths in various parts of Malappuram, said the excise team.