Kerala Police have made a major breakthrough against an interstate drug trafficking network, seizing 12.794 kg of MDMA worth more than ₹10 crore and arresting three alleged members of the syndicate near Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu.
The accused have been identified as Valappil Jabir Ali, Muhammad Salih and Sheim Akbar. The narcotics were allegedly concealed inside the door panels of an Innova car being used to transport the consignment.
₹10 Crore Drug Consignment Seized
The seizure was made by a Special Investigation Team led by Malappuram District Police Chief Chaitra Teresa John, along with Manjeri Police and the District Anti-Narcotics Special Action Force (DANSAF).
According to police, the MDMA was packed in sealed packets ranging from 100 grams to 500 grams and was intended for distribution across Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Investigators identified Coimbatore, Palani and Kodaikanal as important transit points used by the network.
Network Traced To Delhi, Mumbai And Bengaluru
The latest arrests follow an investigation launched after police arrested six people in Manjeri with around 100 grams of MDMA.
Further questioning allegedly helped investigators uncover a larger network that procured and stored narcotics at locations in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru before transporting them towards southern states.
Police said the syndicate used vehicles equipped with hidden compartments to conceal the drugs during transportation.
Young People Among The Targets
Malappuram police said the network was targeting young people in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, with some youngsters allegedly being drawn into the operation by the promise of easy money.
The scale of the latest seizure has also highlighted the wider challenge posed by synthetic drugs in the region.
Operation Thoofan Intensifies Crackdown
The arrests come amid the ongoing Operation Thoofan, Kerala’s state-wide anti-narcotics drive.
According to Inspector General Putta Vimaladitya, the operation has completed nearly three months and has so far resulted in around 10,500 arrests, with more than 21 kg of MDMA and 1,100 kg of ganja seized. Authorities have also destroyed illegal cannabis cultivation and expanded anti-drug programmes across schools and colleges.
The government has also increased coordination between police, other agencies and neighbouring states to disrupt interstate drug networks.
The latest ₹10-crore seizure therefore represents more than the recovery of a single consignment. It has given investigators fresh leads into a wider supply chain stretching across several major cities and transit routes.