Nearly 2,000 held in NDPS cases in past 10 months in Kozhikode

Frequent flash inspections based on intelligence inputs and follow-up investigation enabled the Kozhikode City police’s anti-narcotics squads to nab 1,948 suspects in drug trafficking cases over the past 10 months. During the period, the special squads also registered 1,768 cases, thus delivering a strong blow to the inter-State and inter-district drug trafficking network.

Senior officials with the anti-narcotics squad said that the forfeiture of illegally acquired properties by suspected drug traffickers and the preventive detention of repeat offenders under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT NDPS) Act had significantly boosted enforcement efforts. During the campaign period, the police reportedly seized 3,353.5 grams of MDMA and 123.6 kg of ganja, along with substantial quantities of hashish oil, ecstasy pills, and brown sugar.

Figures from the District Crime Records Bureau (DCRB) also confirmed that the special squads had maintained consistency in their field-level actions in tracking drug trafficking cases. Last year, the squads arrested 1,985 suspects under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, registering 1,835 cases, including 31 incidents involving commercial quantities of drugs.

“A key initiative in 2025 was the stringent forfeiture of illegally acquired property under section 68F (1) of the NDPS Act, 1985. Properties of around 10 repeat offenders were forfeited with sanction from the Appellate Tribunal for Forfeited Property established under the Smugglers and Foreign Exchange manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Act, 1976,” said a police officer who was part of a series of flash inspections conducted under the District Anti-Narcotics Special Action Force. He added that efforts were continuing to forfeit assets of more frequent offenders.

As per the DCRB records, the total quantity of MDMA seized last year was 3,107.52 grams. This was apart from the seizure of 157 kg of ganja and 185 grams of LSD. Most cases registered in the city were related to synthetic drug consumption, financing of illicit trafficking, and harbouring offenders. Most special drives were coordinated by a team of special squads under Deputy Commissioner of Police Arun K. Pavithran.

According to District Police Chief (Kozhikode City) T. Narayanan, the police, along with heightened enforcement activities, played a crucial role in creating proper awareness among school and college students against drug abuse. He said the ‘No Never’ awareness campaign launched by the police in 2025 made commendable strides in uniting various residents’ forums, schools, and colleges in Kozhikode city for the cause.