Kochi: A narcotic drug peddling racket that mainly targeted school-going children in the West Kochi region was busted and four of its members arrested on Friday. The accused were identified as Ajmal (22), a native of Matsyapuram near Vathuruthy, Binu Antony (29), a resident of Vathuruthy, Ramjith (32), a resident of Tharayilkulam in Chandiroor and Saji (40), a native of Panavally in Cherthala.
The cops seized 144 Nitroglycerin pills and 40 gram ganja from the members. "The racket used to procure the intoxicating drugs from places like Pondicherry and Goa and sell them locally at high prices. The drugs are ones to be sold only through the prescription of doctors. They used to charge Rs 500 to Rs 5,000 for a strip of pills based on demand," police said.
One of the accused Ajmal banged his head against jail cell after not getting the drugs. "He suffered head injury and was given treatment at a near-by hospital. The gang used to stay at a rented house in Aroor and used to distribute the drugs to areas like Fort Kochi, Mattancherry regions. We nabbed them during a raid while acting on a tip-off," they said. During probe, it was found that Ajmal is an accused in nearly 15 cases and Binu in 22 cases, including that for murder, registered in Harbour police station.
