Malappuram (Keralam), Aug 29 (PTI) Over 12 kg MDMA worth around Rs 10 crore was recovered from a vehicle in Coimbatore and three people were arrested as part of a probe into an earlier drug seizure in Manjeri, here, District Police Chief Chaitra Teresa John said on Saturday.
In a press conference, John said that the arrest and seizure was made as part of the investigation into a commercial quantity drug seizure case registered at Manjeri police station on August 6, in which nearly 97 grams of MDMA was recovered.
Six people were initially arrested in that case.
Police traced the source of the drug based on information obtained from those arrested in the Manjeri case and tracked the suspects to Coimbatore in neighbouring Tamil Nadu, where a police team arrested three persons on Friday.
They were produced before a court and remanded on Saturday, she said.
The suspects were staying at a rented lodge in Coimbatore, while the over 12 kg MDMA worth around Rs 10 crore was seized from their vehicle.
John said it would be one of the largest MDMA seizures in Keralam in recent years.
According to the officer, the suspects allegedly supplied MDMA to different parts of Kerala and had contacts across the state.
“These are the key accused in this case. Initially, six accused were detected. Following that, we went after the source of the MDMA, which led to these three,” she said.
Police have identified a few more persons linked to the network and efforts are on to trace them, she said, adding that the investigation would also look into those allegedly operating above the three arrested persons.
The accused have prior NDPS cases and their other criminal records are being verified, John said.
Given the quantity of drugs seized, a special team will be constituted to conduct further investigation.
The District Anti-Narcotics Special Action Force (DANSAF) and other police personnel are part of the probe, she said.
The officer said no other contraband or cash was recovered in the latest seizure.
Police have not so far found any international links in the case, though the possibility is being examined, she added. PTI TBA TBA ROH
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