Police in Kochi and Ernakulam conducted raids on Wednesday as part of a statewide anti-drug drive, seizing suspected brown sugar, MDMA and hybrid ganja and arresting five people.
The Kochi City police seized 270.51 grams of suspected brown sugar from Monor Hussain, 31, and Ramjan Ali, 21, both from Nagaon in Assam, near SRM Road. They also recovered 4.74 grams of suspected MDMA from Amarjeeth, 29, of Edavanakkad and 3.6 grams of suspected MDMA from Mohammed Yousuf, 43, of Elamakkara. The operations were carried out by the District Anti-Narcotics Special Action Force.
In a separate action, the anti-narcotic wing of the Ernakulam Rural police seized around 17 kg of suspected hybrid ganja from Ayush, 39, a native of Arukad in Vypeen, at Marampilly near Perumbavoor. Officers first recovered 1.25 kg from his scooter and later found another 16 kg in the flat where he stayed.
The seizures form part of Operation Toofan – the Narco Hunt, a statewide anti-drug drive. Ayush had been under surveillance and had moved into the flat a week earlier. The bust occurred one day before Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala’s scheduled visit to Ernakulam for related programmes.