Thiruvananthapuram Man Arrested with 110g MDMA Concealed in Body
In a significant narcotics bust, a 52-year-old man was arrested in the early hours of Sunday morning in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The arrest followed the recovery of 110 grams of MDMA, a potent synthetic drug, which was found concealed inside his body in multiple small packages.
Operation Based on Specific Intelligence
The operation was conducted by the District Anti-Narcotics Special Action Force (Dansaf) team in collaboration with Cantonment police. According to officials, the accused, identified as Biju alias Ucchi Biju, a resident of Rajaji Nagar in Thiruvananthapuram, had arrived in the city from Nagercoil. The Dansaf team was waiting for him at the Thampanoor bus depot based on specific intelligence they had received about his movements.
An initial body search at the bus depot did not yield any narcotics, prompting the authorities to take him for an X-ray examination. The X-ray revealed that the contraband was hidden inside his rectum in several small packets, a common method used by drug traffickers to evade detection.
Intent to Distribute and Habitual Offender Status
Police stated that the quantity of MDMA recovered—110 grams—indicated an intent to distribute the narcotic substance within the city. This suggests that the accused was not merely a user but potentially involved in the supply chain of illegal drugs in the region.
Further investigation revealed that Biju is a habitual offender with a long criminal record. He had previously been arrested in a cannabis case and was out on bail at the time of this incident. Additionally, he has been booked multiple times under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (Kaapa) and was externed from the city as part of past legal actions.
The accused is also listed in the police station's rowdy list, with several narcotics-related cases registered against him in the past. This history underscores his involvement in criminal activities and highlights the challenges faced by law enforcement in dealing with repeat offenders.
Implications for Narcotics Control in Kerala
This arrest is part of ongoing efforts by Kerala police to crack down on drug trafficking and distribution networks in the state. The use of advanced techniques like X-ray examinations in such operations demonstrates the evolving strategies employed by authorities to combat the smuggling of narcotics.
The case also raises concerns about the prevalence of synthetic drugs like MDMA in urban areas and the need for continued vigilance and intelligence-led policing to disrupt supply chains. Authorities have emphasized that such seizures are crucial in preventing the spread of drug abuse and related social issues in communities.
