Kerala Excise Department Makes Major Drug Bust, Arrests Man with MDMA
The Kerala Excise Department has made a significant breakthrough in its fight against narcotics with the arrest of a 31-year-old man in Muvattupuzha. The accused, identified as Sajid P A from Eramalloor in Kothamangalam, was apprehended near Payipra School Padi on Tuesday evening for possessing 30.7 grams of MDMA, a potent party drug.
Surveillance Operation Leads to Arrest
The arrest was the culmination of a sustained surveillance operation that spanned nearly two and a half months. Led by Muvattupuzha Excise Circle Inspector G Krishnakumar, officials had been closely monitoring Sajid's movements after he was previously linked to a drug distribution case but managed to evade capture by going absconding.
International Connections and Supply Chain Uncovered
Investigators revealed that Sajid runs a shop in Qatar and returned to Kerala approximately three months ago. During his time abroad, he allegedly established contacts for sourcing MDMA. A key figure in this network is Shahabas, a native of Chikkamagaluru whom Sajid met in Qatar, who is believed to have regularly supplied the contraband.
The drugs were reportedly transported from Bengaluru to Kochi through bus operators, sometimes without their knowledge. In some instances, MDMA packets were cleverly concealed inside hollowed-out books and sent as parcels via bus services, highlighting the sophisticated methods used to evade detection.
Digital Payment Methods and Distribution Network
Payments for the narcotics were made using modern financial tools, including cash deposit machines and scanner-based digital transactions. Investigators discovered that Sajid frequently transferred money to the bank account of an individual identified as Minoj. The accused is believed to have sold MDMA primarily in the Kothamangalam and Muvattupuzha regions, indicating a localized distribution network.
Legal Proceedings and Ongoing Investigation
Sajid has been remanded in judicial custody following his arrest. The Excise Department is continuing its investigation to trace Shahabas and other links in the supply chain, aiming to dismantle the entire operation. This case underscores the department's commitment to tackling drug trafficking, with the Muvattupuzha excise circle office having registered 102 narcotics cases in 2025 and 11 cases so far this year, as officials added.
The bust highlights the growing challenge of international drug networks infiltrating local communities, with connections spanning from Qatar to Karnataka. Authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to help combat the spread of such substances.
