Kochi: Three persons, suspected to have links with inter-state drug mafia were arrested on Tuesday by Kochi Police for possessing banned psychotropic drug Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). The arrested were identified as Mentron Vargheese (23), a resident of Pulikkathara House, Gothuruthu, North Paravur, Roopesh E M (32), a native of Edavanakkadu, and Sanoop P M (23), a resident of Ponnathu House, Kallichira Road, Palluruthi. According to cops, the trio admitted to have smuggled drugs from Jammu and Kashmir and New Delhi to various parts of the country 17 times.
“The arrested persons have named one Pakstani who was providing them the drugs. We’re probing about a big international racket using them as carriers. They used to contact them via WhatsApp and internet,” said City Police Commissioner M P Dinesh. The special team led by the DCP is also on the hunt for two more persons – Rijas and Niyas, based on the information given by the trio. “They used to smuggle in crystal-shaped MDMA drug which is estimated to cost Rs 10,000 per gram in the market,” the officer said.
The accused used to travel in flights to New Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir to smuggle in the drugs. They further told the police that they used to be paid Rs 50, 000 each for each assignment besides the flight tickets. "An inquiry would be conducted to ascertain whether the accused had involved in any kind of anti-national activities. We found them receiving cash from abroad through their bank accounts", said Special Branch Assistant Commissioner K.V. Vijayan.
