A principal district and sessions court in Mangaluru has delivered a stern verdict in a significant narcotics case, sentencing five individuals to lengthy terms of rigorous imprisonment. The sentences range from 12 to 14 years for the illegal possession and transportation of drugs.
The Court's Verdict and Sentences
On Saturday, Judge Basavaraj pronounced the guilty verdict against the five accused under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The court handed down varying sentences based on their roles.
Louis Daniel Justin Boulo (alias Danny), 25, a South Sudan national residing in Bengaluru; Mohiddeen Rasheed, 24, from Kunnil, Shiriya; and Sabitha (alias Chinchu), 25, from Bengaluru (native of Ooty) were each sentenced to 12 years of rigorous imprisonment. They were also fined Rs 1.3 lakh each.
Mahammad Rameez, 24, from Uppala received the harshest punishment of 14 years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 1.5 lakh. Abdul Ravoof (alias Tough Rovoof), 35, from Mulinja, Uppala was sentenced to 13 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1.4 lakh.
All three individuals from Uppala and Kunnil are natives of Kerala's Kasaragod district. Additionally, all five accused were given a concurrent six-month rigorous imprisonment term and a Rs 10,000 fine each for consuming narcotic substances.
The 2022 Drug Bust and Investigation
The case stems from a police operation on June 15, 2022. Acting on a tip-off received by Inspector Mahesh Prasad about illegal drug transportation, a team led by Sub-Inspector Pradeep T.R. intercepted a car near Padil in Mangaluru.
A search of the vehicle led to the seizure of over 135 grams of methamphetamine. Investigations revealed that Louis Daniel Justin Boulo was the supplier who provided the drugs to Mahammad Rameez. Medical examinations later confirmed that all the accused had consumed narcotics.
The Mangaluru CEN crime police registered a case under Sections 21, 21(C), and 27(b) of the NDPS Act. Inspector Sathish M.P. conducted the subsequent investigation and filed the chargesheet in court.
Additional Legal Complications and Trial
Public Prosecutor Judith O.M. Crasta presented further damning details during the proceedings. It was revealed that the South Sudan national, Boulo, was overstaying in India after his student visa expired in May 2019.
The court also noted the criminal history of some accused. Mahammad Rameez has two other pending cases under the NDPS Act, while Abdul Ravoof is a habitual offender facing a similar case. The court denied bail to Boulo and Rameez. Following the verdict, Rasheed, Ravoof, and Sabitha were arrested and sent to judicial custody.
The trial was comprehensive, with the court examining 24 witnesses and marking 172 documents as evidence. In a final order, the court also directed the confiscation of the car used for transporting the drugs.
This ruling underscores the stringent enforcement of India's anti-narcotics laws and the severe consequences for drug trafficking and consumption. The involvement of an international defendant highlights the cross-border nature of such crimes, which Indian authorities continue to tackle vigorously.
