Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Sep 22: The CCB police unit of Mangaluru city has busted a drug racket operating between Mumbai and Mangaluru, arresting six persons in two separate cases and seizing narcotics worth over Rs 24 lac.

Acting on a tip-off, a team led by Bantwal excise deputy superintendent Santosh Modagi raided a house at Mally Layout, Gandhinagar, Kavoor on September 21 morning. Two youths were caught with MDMA while attempting to flee on a scooter. They were identified as Chirag Sanil and Allwyn Clinton D’Souza, both residents of Kavoor. Police seized 111.83 grams of MDMA valued at Rs 22,30,000 from them.

During interrogation, it was revealed that Chirag Sanil had procured the drugs from an African national named Benjamin based in Mumbai, using money provided by Abdul Kareem from Kerala. Based on this information, Abdul Kareem was arrested near Mangaluru Central Railway Station on September 22. A case was registered at Kavoor police station under the NDPS Act.

Further investigations revealed that the accused had already sold cocaine to three other persons. Acting on this lead, police raided near the Central Warehouse at Mannagudda on September 21 evening. Three men on scooters attempted to escape but were apprehended. Police recovered 21.03 grams of cocaine worth Rs 1,90,000. The accused were identified as Janan alias Janan Jagannath, Rajesh Bangera, and Varun Ganiga.

A case was registered at Barke police station under relevant sections of the NDPS Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

All six accused have been produced before court and remanded to judicial custody. Police said investigations are underway to trace the wider network of peddlers, suppliers, and drug users linked to the racket.