Daijiworld Media Network – Perumbavoor
Perumbavoor, Jun 9: Police seized 35 kilograms of marijuana and arrested four migrant workers from West Bengal during a major anti-narcotics operation in Kerala's Perumbavoor on Sunday.
The arrests were made as part of the state-wide anti-drug campaign, 'Operation Toofan', jointly conducted by the Ernakulam District DANSAF team and a special investigation squad led by the Perumbavoor police.
The accused have been identified as Ashibul Sheikh, Sandeep Mandal, Samrat Sheikh and Rakhibul Sheikh, all natives of West Bengal.
According to police, they had received prior intelligence about large consignments of narcotic substances being transported through migrant workers. Acting on the tip-off, officers tracked the movement of the suspects and intercepted two autorickshaws at Kunnuvazhi in Vazhakulam.
During the search, police recovered 35 kg of marijuana concealed in small packets inside travel bags carried by the accused. Investigators said the contraband had allegedly been transported from West Bengal by train to Aluva before being shifted to Perumbavoor in the autorickshaws.
All four suspects were taken into custody and the narcotic substance was seized. Officials estimated the market value of the recovered marijuana at around Rs 10 lakh.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the consignment was intended for distribution in Perumbavoor's Bhai Bazaar area, a location frequented by large numbers of migrant workers, particularly on Sundays. Police suspect the accused planned to sell the narcotics through local networks catering to migrant labourers.
The seizure comes amid an intensified crackdown on drug trafficking in the Perumbavoor region. Police said significant quantities of narcotic substances have been recovered from the area in recent days under the ongoing enforcement drive.
Authorities are now investigating the possibility of a larger interstate drug trafficking network behind the operation. Efforts are also underway to trace the source of the marijuana and identify others who may be linked to the smuggling and distribution chain.
Police noted that the operation coincided with a period when lakhs of migrant workers were returning to Kerala. Officials estimate that nearly 35 lakh Bengali migrant workers are currently residing in the state.