11 grams of MDMA seized in Neyyattinkara, one arrested

T’puram: Excise officials arrested a 32-year-old man and seized 11g of MDMA allegedly brought for sale in Neyyattinkara town as part of intensified anti-drug inspections ahead of the reopening of schools.The accused, Nikesh Balakrishnan, of Nilambur, Malappuram, was apprehended near Neyyattinkara bus stand during a routine inspection. Officials said he attempted to flee on spotting the excise team but was chased down.According to excise officials, Balakrishnan was acting as a carrier in a drug trafficking network. Preliminary investigations revealed that he arrived in Thiruvananthapuram by train and later travelled to Neyyattinkara by bus.The arrest was made as part of enhanced surveillance being carried out at public transport hubs, including railway stations and bus stands, in view of school reopening season. Excise officials said drug smugglers often target educational institutions and nearby areas during this period.The inspection was conducted under Operation Thunder, a statewide anti-drug enforcement drive being implemented by excise department. The operation is being led in the region by Neyyattinkara excise circle office as part of govt’s ongoing campaign against narcotics.