THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: About 100 cases of drug trafficking in a year, a good number of which involving party drugs like methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) suspected to be smuggled from Afghanistan through Kashmir borders using terrorists. This is not the profile of any infamous peddler, but the number of drug trafficking cases cracked by an excise circle inspector in the state. Excise circle inspector Saji Lekshmanan, who shot to fame following the seizure of MDMA worth Rs 30 crore in Kochi the other day, is being showered with appreciations over his track record.
Mr Lekshmanan, who heads the excise special squad in Kochi, was honoured by excise minister T. P. Ramakrishnan during the inaugural function of the Kerala State Excise Officers' Association here on Tuesday. Excise inspector N. P. Sudeep Kumar of Ernakulam was also honoured for MDMA seizures. Excise commissioner Rishi Raj Singh had earlier announced a reward of Rs 25,000 to the special quad led by Mr Lekshmanan. "Of the 100 cases booked by me in the last one year in Kochi, 16 were major ones. In many cases I could also trace the source which extended to places like Goa, Mumbai, Delhi and even beyond the country," Mr Lekshmanan told DC.
He, however, refused to reveal further as the investigations in many cases were still progressing and even central agencies were pursuing some, including the recent seizure of MDMA worth Rs 30 crore, as terror angles involved. There were reports that the MDMA, widely known as ecstasy drug, is smuggled to India from Afghanistan through Kashmir by terrorists. From there it reaches hubs like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Goa.
"One thing I can say is that MDMA and other similar party drugs are reaching the state from Goa in bulk, mainly by train using carriers. From there it is even smuggled to other countries through airports," he said. Mr Lekshmanan, who has been serving in excise over two decades and have about one more year of service left, says that the drug menace in the state was increasing alarmingly and hence there should not be any let down in enforcement and awareness activities.
