Ernakulam experienced a surge in suspected synthetic drugs in April, with police seizing nearly 1 kg of MDMA in multiple operations. The crackdown followed a March raid at a Kadavanthra hotel, leading to arrests including the alleged kingpin Kevin B. Mathew. Several others linked to his network were also detained.
Ernakulam saw a significant increase in the inflow of suspected synthetic drugs during April 2026. Police operations resulted in the seizure of nearly 1 kg of MDMA, with 396.04 grams recovered within city limits and over 500 grams confiscated by rural police in a major haul.
The surge followed a raid in March at a star hotel in Kadavanthra, where eight professionals were arrested with suspected narcotic substances. This probe uncovered a city-based racket led by Kevin B. Mathew, 42, from Vazhakkala. He was arrested with 183.55 grams of suspected MDMA and 93.51 grams of suspected ecstasy pills.
Further operations targeting Mathew's network led to additional arrests. Siyad, 42, from Edappally, and Adil Ansar, 24, from Kollam were detained at a lodge in Kalamassery with 6.79 grams of suspected MDMA and cannabis. Siddique, 28, from North Paravur was caught at Vattekkunnam near Kalamassery with 30 grams of suspected MDMA, while Linoj, 22, was arrested near Madavana with 46.28 grams and is suspected to have sourced drugs from Kevin.
