Kochi: The Ernakulam Rural Police on Monday seized high-quality green hashish oil worth nearly Rs two crore in the international market and arrested a 38-year old man having suspected links with international drug mafia. A special squad held Antony (38) alias ‘Mattu Manoj’, a resident of Kambilikandom in Idukki, after intercepting his bike at First Mile in Perumbavoor and found two kg hashish oil upon inspection of the bag he was carrying.
“He was under our observation for the past one month after we got specific information of him being a member of the racket. Even when he was caught, he was receiving calls from foreign countries. The seized drug is high quality one with a gram costing from 50 to 150 dollars in the international market,” said Kochi Range Inspector General Vijay Sakare.
The ‘Operation Honeybomb’ was initiated as part of strengthening action against drug smuggling post seizure of 117 kg ganja at Perumbavoor four months ago.
“A mechanism was put in place to monitor hard core criminals and their activities. We got tip-off that a racket was active in selling hashish oil to rich clients in the Kochi city. A trap was laid to catch the gang members,” said Baiju Paulose, Station Head Officer, Perumbavoor.
The cops contacted the accused posing as cinefield workers through middlemen and asked for hashish oil. The gang supplied test pose which proved to be of high quality during inspection. Following this a bulk order was placed and the suspicious gang members were put under monitor. Finally the accused was arrested at 8 am when he was bringing the stuff from Idukki to Ernakulam,” the officer said. Earlier in May 2017, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence seized hashish oil worth Rs five crore from a house at Adimali in Idukki.
