Seizure of hybrid ganja: Key accused held

Kochi: The key accused, part of an international drug trafficking network, were arrested in connection with the seizure of hybrid cannabis worth Rs 18 crore.Police arrested accused Abu Tahir, 39, of Mundur, Palakkad; Harikrishnan, 25, of Ottapalam; Presjith, 40, of Palakkad; Sreejesh, 41, of Ottapalam; and Sanjay P, 22, of Ottapalam, from various parts of the state.

An investigation team led by district police chief K S Sudarsan made the arrests.

Main accused Tahir was apprehended by police from Bengaluru.Police said Tahir was a key accused behind the drug syndicate. The accused were arrested following a detailed investigation centred on drug distribution networks within and outside India.The international drug syndicate used to smuggle hybrid cannabis into Kerala from Thailand, police said. Police seized mobile phones, bank transaction documents, foreign travel records and digital evidence from the accused.“Abu Tahir and Harikrishnan would send agents to Thailand, providing them with visas, tickets and financial rewards. Upon their return, the agents would bring hybrid cannabis, which the gang would collect outside the airport and subsequently sell,” said an officer.Earlier, as part of Operation Toofan, Ayush, 39, and his wife Anika, 30, of Njarakkal, were arrested with nearly 18kg of hybrid cannabis. Ayush was caught smuggling 1.166kg of hybrid cannabis on a motorcycle during an inspection in Marampilly Kunnuvazhi area on Wednesday evening.

Subsequently, a search conducted at his flat in Kunnuvazhi led to the discovery of 16kg of hybrid cannabis, where his wife was then arrested. This is one of the largest drug hauls in the rural district, said police.The investigation team was formed under the supervision of Ernakulam range DIG G H Yathish Chandra. The team comprised Perumbavoor ASP Hardik Meena, Perumbavoor inspector L Anilkumar, SIs Asarif, Shafeeq, Jojo George, Vishnu Murali, Adarsh, Abdul Jaleel, Ibrahimkutty C A, ASIs Subair M B, Manoj N P, Babu Kuriakose, senior CPOs Shijo Paul, Muhammad Shan and CPOs Najmi and Fasil Basheer.