Ernakulam Rural: A major ganja bust took place in Perumbavoor, where four individuals were arrested with 14 kg of the drug. The accused include Manikya Mangalam Karikot Shyamkumar (37) from Kaladi Nettinampilli, Lijo George Kurian (33) from Kodanadu Kanjirathinkal, Pavitra Paraseth (25), and Bijay Nayak (27) from Kandamal, Odisha. The arrests were made by the Rural District Dansaf Team and the Special Investigation Team, led by Perumbavoor ASP, following a tip-off from District Police Chief Dr. Vaibhav Saxena IPS.
Two Malayalam-speaking men smuggled nine kilos of ganja in a vehicle transporting guest workers from Odisha to the Odakali area. The vehicle was intercepted and searched at Perumbavoor, where the ganja was found in separate packages. Authorities are investigating whether this was part of a larger operation.
Additionally, natives of Kandamal, Odisha, were caught with five kilos of ganja in the Paranganad area. The accused, who were employed in a company in South Kalamassery, were selling ganja smuggled from Odisha, which they purchased for Rs.3,000 and sold locally for Rs.30,000. On Sunday morning, Vijay Naik and Pavitra Parseth arrived by train to Kalamassery with the intent to sell ganja in Paranganad.
The operation was timed with Onam inspections and involved ASP Mohit Rawat, Narcotics Cell DySP PP Shams, Inspector AL Abhilash, SI J. Saji, ASIs P.A Abdul Manaf, KA Naushad, Senior CPO Manoj Kumar, T.A Afzal, and CPOs C.P Ansar, Arun K Karun, Benny Isaac, Robin Joy, Muhammad Naufal, and Banazir CB. Over the last month, 185 drug-related cases have been registered in the rural district, leading to the arrest of 210 individuals. Around 25 kg of cannabis, 120 grams of brown sugar, and 25 grams of heroin were seized.
