Kochi: In a significant anti-drug operation, the excise department seized 23.42 grams of heroin stored in 240 small containers from a lodge in Perumbavoor, leading to the arrest of five migrant labourers. The contraband was recovered from a lodge on P P Road on Wednesday, which was rented by Naushad Alam, a 27-year-old from Assam. Authorities have registered a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Details of the Raid
According to excise officials, CCTV footage showed the suspect, Naushad Alam, leaving the premises before the inspection began. Preliminary investigations suggest the seized heroin was intended for local distribution, primarily targeting the migrant worker population and youth in the area. Excise inspector S. Binu stated that the accused checked into the lodge on Tuesday and had previously stayed there on other occasions as well. Efforts are currently underway to trace and apprehend the absconding suspect.
Operation Thunder
The raid was carried out as part of 'Operation Thunder', a special drive launched by the excise department to crack down on drug trafficking in the region.
Additional Arrests and Seizures
In a separate incident, a 31-year-old man from West Bengal was arrested by city police after being found in possession of 3.07 kilograms of ganja near Kunnumpuram in Perumbavoor on Wednesday. The accused was identified as Anwar Hussain, 31, from Paikpara in Barakar, West Bengal. The arrest was made as part of Operation Toofan, a special anti-narcotics drive conducted under the 'Narcotic Cell Hunting' initiative. Acting on a tip-off received by city police commissioner Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar IPS, a team of the district anti-narcotic special action force (Dansaf), led by narcotic cell assistant commissioner T.D. Sunilkumar, arrested the accused and seized the contraband.
Further Heroin Seizure
In another operation, police arrested a woman from Assam, and the excise department seized 1.3 grams of heroin from Perumbavoor. The arrested individual was identified as Shahida Khatoon, 25, from Nagoon. An officer stated that a single bottle was sold for Rs 1,000, and authorities are probing the drug supply chain.
These operations underscore the ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to combat drug trafficking in the Kochi region.
