Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Mar 13: In three separate operations, the Mangaluru City Crime Branch (CCB) police arrested five notorious interstate criminals involved in multiple cases across Karnataka and Kerala. The police seized three illegal pistols, six live bullets, 12.895 kg of ganja, three cars, and other valuables worth approximately Rs 40.50 lac.
Case 1: On March 12, 2025, based on credible information, CCB police intercepted a suspicious Scorpio car (KL-14-G-9080) in the Natekal area. Upon inspection, two individuals were arrested: Noufal (38), son of Mustafa, resident of Kakkadinagat House, Kunnumkai West, Elari Post, Beemanadi village, Kasargod district, Kerala and Mansoor (36), son of Abdul Rahman, resident of Sunkadakatte House, Kurdapadavu Post, Paivalike village, Kasargod district, Kerala.
The police recovered two pistols, four live bullets, two mobile phones, and the Scorpio car, with the total value of the seized items estimated at Rs 14.60 lac. The case has been registered at Konaje police station.
Noufal has six prior cases related to drug trafficking registered in various police stations in Kerala, while Mansoor has four cases, including drug-related offenses and issuing death threats.
Case 2: On March 12, 2025, CCB police received a tip-off about an individual transporting ganja from Kerala to Mangaluru in a red Swift car (KL-10-BC-6548). The police intercepted the vehicle in Arkula and arrested: Abdul Latheef, also known as Thoku Latheef (29), son of late Mohammad, resident of Kota House, Mangalpady Panchayat, Shiria Post, Bandyod, Kasargod district, Kerala. Currently residing in a rented house near Kondotty, Kozhikode Airport, Kozhikode district, Kerala.
The police seized 12.895 kg of ganja, a mobile phone, and the Swift car, valued at Rs 15.70 lac. A case has been registered at Mangaluru Rural police station.
Latheef is accused of supplying firearms to suspects in the Mangaluru Rural police station shootout case. He was also involved in the 2024 Ullal illegal firearm case linked to accused Aslar. He has 13 criminal cases registered against him in Kerala and Karnataka, including those related to illegal arms, assault, robbery, attempted murder, and homicide.
Case 3: On March 13, 2025, CCB police received intelligence about two suspects in a Maharashtra-registered white Volkswagen Polo (MH-02-BT-2287) moving suspiciously near the Karnataka-Kerala border at Talapady. Acting on the information, the police intercepted the vehicle near Devipura and arrested: Mohammad Aslar (27), son of late Umar, resident of Mortana House, Mortana, Kadambar Post, Kasargod district, Kerala and Mohammad Sali (31), son of Mohammad, resident of Mortana House, Mortana, Kadambar Post, Kasargod district, Kerala.
The police seized one pistol, two live bullets, two mobile phones, and the Polo car, with the estimated value of the seized items at Rs 10.20 lac. A case has been registered at Ullal police station.
Aslar has 17 criminal cases against him in Kerala and Karnataka, including assault, robbery, attempted murder, and drug trafficking. Sali has 10 cases registered at Manjeshwar police station, including drug trafficking, assault, attempted murder, and illegal sand mining.
In total, the police have seized three pistols, six live bullets, 12.895 kg of ganja, five mobile phones, and three cars across these three cases. Further investigations are underway to trace other individuals involved in these crimes.
The operations were carried out under the guidance of Mangaluru police commissioner Anupam Agrawal IPS, with supervision from deputy commissioners of police Siddharth Goyal IPS (law and order) and K Ravishankar KSPS (crime and traffic). The CCB team was led by ACP Manoj Kumar Naik, with police inspectors Rafiq K M, PSI Sharanappa Bhandary, and ASIs Mohan K V and Sujan Shetty actively participating in the investigations.