Alleged kingpin behind ₹1.5-crore MDMA-cocaine bust held in Kerala
The Kerala Police have arrested the alleged mastermind of a drug-trafficking operation involving MDMA and cocaine worth approximately ₹1.5 crore. The Palakkad Town South police took N. Abdul Saleem, a native of Payyanedam near Mannarkkad, into custody from his house on Tuesday.
According to the police, Saleem was the main organiser and financier of the network. His arrest came days after four persons were caught with a significant quantity of drugs at Olavakkode. The four accused were apprehended on Monday with 800 grams of MDMA, 2 grams of cocaine, two LSD stamps, ecstasy tablets, 7 grams of hybrid cannabis, and 2 grams of brown sugar.
Those arrested on Monday were identified as Mohammed Azharudheen, 30, from Vengara, Malappuram; Beefathima, 27, from South Karnataka; Mohammed Nisih, 26, from Kanjirappally, Kottayam; and Shameer Ahmed, 37, from Coimbatore. Shameer was driving the vehicle in which the group was travelling.
During interrogation, the four accused allegedly revealed Saleem's role in the operation. Police said he had brought the drugs from Bengaluru to Coimbatore in one car and planned to transport them into Kerala using another vehicle with the help of carriers. Both vehicles have been seized by the authorities.
District Police Chief A. Abdul Raashi stated that Saleem was involved in several similar cases in Palakkad and Coimbatore. Investigators are now looking into the source of the drugs and whether more individuals are connected to the network. The probe is expected to be extended to locations outside Kerala.
In a related development, police found that one of the accused, a B.Tech graduate, used his technical knowledge to facilitate the operation. Investigators said he helped the group communicate while their phones were in flight mode, making it harder for law enforcement to track their activities.
The arrests highlight the ongoing efforts by Kerala Police to crack down on drug trafficking in the region. The investigation remains underway.
