2 hrs ago
Kerala Police Chase Drug Network From Kannur To Delhi
Kerala Police began investigating after finding a small amount of MDMA in New Mahe.
The investigation led them to a man named Mohammad Sameel.
Police say they found 185 grams of MDMA at his house and in his vehicle.
They then studied phones, bank transactions and travel movements.
This helped them trace other people in different parts of India.
Police say the group used drop points, changing SIM cards and bank accounts to hide its activities.
The investigation eventually reached Delhi.
There, two women from Nigeria and Cameroon were arrested.
Police allege they used a dry fruit shop as a cover and are still searching for the network’s main leader.
A 0.6-gram MDMA seizure in New Mahe began an investigation spanning about 2,000 kilometres.
Police recovered 185 grams of MDMA from Mohammad Sameel’s house and vehicle on July 10.
Investigators traced suspected intermediaries through phone records, financial transactions and movement patterns.
The probe led to arrests in Bengaluru, Gurugram and Delhi, including a suspect linked to about 800 grams of MDMA.
Two foreign nationals were arrested in Delhi, where police allege they manufactured and supplied MDMA through intermediaries and parcel networks.
- Who
- Kerala Police arrested several suspected members of a drug network, including Nigerian national Chinelo Lilian and Cameroonian national Philomene Chancelin.
- What
- Police investigated an MDMA network and made arrests after seizing 0.6 gram, 185 grams and about 800 grams of the drug in separate stages.
- Where
- The investigation began in New Mahe and expanded to Bengaluru, Gurugram and Delhi, with links across Kerala and other states.
- When
- The case began in the first week of July; Sameel’s house and vehicle were searched on July 10, and the Delhi operation lasted about 10 days.
- Why
- Police said the investigation aimed to identify the network’s suppliers, intermediaries and suspected main leader.
Key facts
- Initial seizure
- 0.6 gram of MDMA was seized in New Mahe, Kannur.
- Major Kerala recovery
- Police said 185 grams of MDMA were recovered from Mohammad Sameel’s house and vehicle.
- Gurugram recovery
- Arshad Ali was arrested with around 800 grams of MDMA, according to police.
- Delhi arrests
- Chinelo Lilian, 36, and Philomene Chancelin, 30, were arrested.
- Alleged cover business
- Police said the two foreign nationals operated a dry fruit shop in Delhi as a cover.
- Alleged financial network
- Investigators said the network used about 20 bank accounts and routed transactions worth crores of rupees.
- Wider operation
- The arrests took place as Kerala Police intensified Operation Toofan against narcotics networks.
Quotes
K Karthik
Kannur Range Deputy Inspector General of Police
“Foreign national like them are having a free run without enforcement agencies detecting their crimes. This is a national security threat.”
NDTV
“We are now trying to hunt the main kingpin. We have information that live drug manufacturing was being shown through video calls.”
NDTV
Sources
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