KOZHIKODE: The state police are worried about the increasing cases of Keralites involved in international drug trafficking cartels which operate from Afghanistan and smuggle in heroin through Delhi.
The arrest of two natives of Wayanad district by the Delhi police on Saturday with 690 grams of heroin worth about Rs 40 lakh in the international market was the last of the series.
Sajid of Pozhuthana, Wayanad, and Saifulla of Vythiri were arrested by Delhi police along with two Afghan nationals in Delhi while handing over heroin, according to police.
It may be recalled that another person, Noushad Abdul Rahman of Kasargod, was arrested along with four others for possessing drugs, including 21 kg of heroin worth Rs 100 crore in the international market in May this year.
In another case, six kg of heroin worth Rs 25 crore was seized and three persons, including two Keralites - K.P. Moosa Koya, 28, and Ummar Farook Badaje,22 - were arrested by the Special Cell of Delhi police in November.
Mohammed Sajid, arrested in connection with the ganja cases earlier, has been doubling as a fish vendor at Vythiri, according to his neighbours. However, police have started investigation into the background of the duo. Wayanad SP Putta Vimaladithya told DC that his subordinates had been directed to track the antecedents of the culprits.
The incident has once again brought to focus the high-profile narcotics trade with elite customers and smart sellers in the region. However, regulars in the city drug joints are unaware of such high-flying clients who use costly drugs.
“The only exemption is elite visitors in resorts and hotels among whom there might have been some regular users”, said Mr P.C. Sajeevan, assistant commissioner (special branch), Kozhikode.
