Op Toofan: One more held with MDMA

Kochi: City police arrested a 27-year-old man with MDMA on Saturday. The arrested person was identified as Shehanshah S, of Mayyanad, Kollam. As much as 11g of MDMA was seized from him.

The accused was arrested in a search conducted by city police at a lodge along SRM Road.

The operation was jointly conducted by Ernakulam north police and district anti-narcotic special action force (Dansaf) team as part of Operation Toofan, the special operation against drugs. Apart from enforcement drives, police intensified awareness campaigns to increase tips relating to drug-related offences as well as to raise awareness against drug abuse. Mattancherry police sub-division on Saturday organised a bullet rally from Mattancherry bus stand. Fifty police officers took part in the rally sporting T-shirts with anti-drug messages printed on them. The rally passed through Mattancherry, Fort Kochi, Kannamaly, Kumbalangi and Palluruthy. Following the rally, the inauguration of the anti-drug awareness programmes was performed by MLA Muhammad Shiyas, at a function held at BEE YEM Center in Thoppumpady at 10.30am.

The event was presided over by Mattancherry ACP C R Santhosh. Shibin Shaji Varghese, a de-addiction counsellor, conducted an anti-drug awareness class for school and college students. This was followed by a mime performance presented by the students of St Sebastian’s School, Thoppumpady, and an anti-drug flash mob performed by OLCGHSS students in Thoppumpady town. Students from various schools and colleges across West Kochi participated in these events. As part of Operation Toofaan, Aluva sub-division level meeting was held at the conference hall of Ernakulam rural police headquarters as well. Office-bearers of residents’ associations, representatives of traders and businessmen, voluntary organisation workers, prominent citizens and representatives of Scouts and Guides attended the meeting. The representatives presented various issues requiring urgent attention during the meeting. As part of strengthening the Janamaithri (community policing) system, review meetings will be conducted at the police station level, incorporating the office-bearers of residents’ associations. Additionally, a district-level meeting will be held every month, featuring two representatives from each station limit.

Issues raised in these meetings will be resolved with immediate priority.