Kerala Teachers' Arrest: SIT Expands Probe to Track Drug Racket's Financial Network

Following the arrest of three teachers in Kerala in an expanding synthetic drug bust, the newly-constituted Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Kozhikode Rural police is searching for several recently identified financial intermediaries, including women and students. Police sources confirm that a multi-State drug racket operates behind the network of young intermediaries, who reportedly facilitated the secret transfer of large sums using nicknames.

“Most of the newly identified intermediaries who came in contact with the large-scale drug pushers were found addicted to synthetic drugs. They viewed the role of intermediary as a safe and passive source of income to lead an extravagant life and attract more youngsters as carriers,” said a police officer with the District Anti-Narcotics Special Action Force in Kozhikode district.

He stated that special investigation teams earlier constituted within various police station limits in Kerala would work together to ensure a strong crackdown in the area and zero in on all connected rackets.

Following tip-offs from local informants and volunteers, the SIT has also started gathering details of a number of rural teachers and students who reportedly operated as close aides of the previously arrested special educators from Perambra Block Resource Centre.

K.C. Keerthana, K. Kavya, and V.P. Neeshma were the three instructors recently arrested for their alleged role as financial intermediaries for inter-State drug traffickers. Jijin Kuriakose, an online delivery boy from Iritty who was accused of colluding with rural drug traffickers, was also arrested on Tuesday as part of the widening probe.

Police sources said three more suspected intermediaries would be interrogated soon based on digital evidence and statements from the three arrested teachers.

Surveillance measures have been stepped up at airports and district borders to prevent possible attempts by suspects to escape, they said.

“We learn that some non-resident Keralites (NRKs) previously connected with drug-trafficking cases are suspected of coordinating the local trade in rural areas of Kozhikode district. The probe is in full swing to locate them with the support of the Narcotics Control Bureau,” said an Assistant Commissioner of Police attached to the State Anti-Narcotics Special Action Force.

He said that close aides of such suspects abroad, who allegedly used social media platforms for their clandestine operations, are under scrutiny after investigators tracked their call detail records and bank transactions.

Senior officers attached to the high-tech crime investigation cell in Kerala indicate that hundreds of social media accounts, opened by suspected financial intermediaries, have been flagged for monitoring as part of intensified cyber patrol in Kerala. Most of the accounts were created with fake names and codes to connect only with targeted groups, they added, stating that details could be revealed only upon completion of the probe.