Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady
Beltangady, July 30: A 21-year-old youth who was reportedly set to fly to Dubai for employment on Wednesday evening instead landed in judicial custody after Belthangady police arrested him in connection with an alleged narcotics racket and seized MDMA, ganja and other property worth Rs 15.41 lakh.
The arrested accused has been identified as Twalah @ Ansar (21), a resident of Sunnathkere in Kuvettu village.
According to police, sub-inspector Anand M and his team were on routine patrol at around 8 pm on July 29 when they spotted a man behaving suspiciously near an autorickshaw (KA-18-A-7203) parked in front of a private building at Pilichandikallu in Kuvettu village.
On noticing the police vehicle, the suspect allegedly attempted to flee but was intercepted and taken into custody.
During questioning, Twalah allegedly disclosed that he had paid an advance of Rs 20,000 to Hamzath Karar (31), a resident of Aladikottige in Kuvettu village, to procure ganja for resale at a profit. He further told investigators that Hamzath had arrived in a car (KA-21-MA-4990), handed over 500 grams of ganja, and fled the scene after spotting the police.
A search of the abandoned car led to the recovery of 76 grams of MDMA, estimated to be worth Rs 7.60 lac.
Police also recovered 20 grams of ganja valued at Rs 1,498, a mobile phone worth Rs 30,000, and other articles worth Rs 200 from Twalah's possession.
Overall, police seized 20 grams of ganja, 76 grams of MDMA, a car (KA-21-MA-4990), an autorickshaw (KA-18-A-7203), a mobile phone and other articles, with the total value of the seized property estimated at Rs 15,41,698.
Based on the findings, Belthangady police registered a case on July 29 against Hamzath Karar (31) and Twalah alias Ansar (21) under Sections 8(c), 20(b)(ii)(A) and 27A of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Further investigation is under way, while efforts are on to trace the absconding accused.
Police produced Twalah before the jurisdictional judge on July 30, following which he was remanded to judicial custody.
Investigators said Twalah was preparing to leave for Dubai later on July 30 to take up employment. However, his alleged involvement in the narcotics case brought his travel plans to an abrupt end, with the youth being sent to jail instead.
The operation was carried out under the guidance of Belthangady sub-divisional DySP Rohini C K and circle inspector Ravi B S. The raid was led by sub-inspector Anand M and Sikandar Pasha, assisted by police personnel Satish Nayak, Prakash Poojary, Srinivas, Hanumantha, Nanda, Jagadish Attaje, Pramod, Dundappa Poojary, Srinivas, driver Satish, and members of the SOCO team, Kavyashree and Arpita.