Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Sep 27: The City Crime Branch (CCB) police have arrested three individuals and seized 240 grams of the banned drug MDMA, valued at Rs 24 lac, during a raid near Kayargoli cross in Mudipu under Ullal taluk.

Acting on credible information that the accused had procured MDMA from Bengaluru and were peddling it to the public and students in Mangaluru, the CCB police conducted the operation on the evening of Saturday, September 26.

Apart from the MDMA, the police confiscated four mobile phones and a tempo used for transporting the contraband. The total value of the seized items is estimated at Rs 29.80 lac.

The arrested have been identified as Nawaz alias Navva alias Mudipu Nawaz (35), a resident of Gousia compound near Gousia Jumma Masjid in Kairangala village; Mohammad Arif N (36), from Nattihithalu house in Kairangala; and Lloyd D'Souza (35), a resident of Mattebare in Kairangala.

According to the police, Nawaz is a habitual offender with 16 cases registered against him across various police stations in Mangaluru city. His criminal record includes cases of assault, issuing threats, attempt to murder, kidnapping, rape, cheating, cattle theft, and drug peddling. Among these, 12 cases are registered at the Konaje police station, two at the Ullal police station, and one each at the Mulki and Surathkal police stations. He has four previous drug peddling cases against him—two each in Ullal and Konaje.

The police suspect the involvement of several others in this drug trafficking network, and a search operation is underway to apprehend them.

The CCB officers and staff participated in the successful detection and seizure operation. A case has been registered at the Konaje police station, and further investigations are ongoing.