Ernakulam: In one of the biggest drugs bust in recent times, the Kerala police arrested a 26-year-old woman from the Aluva railway station who was found in possession with 1 kg of MDMA (3, 4-methylenedioxy-N-methamphetamine), the banned synthetic drug. The woman was taken into custody while on her arrival from Bangalore by the Aluva police after receiving a tip off.
Sarmeen Akthar, a native of West Bengal is currently being questioned by the police team in Aluva along with Safeer to whom the contraband was supposed to be handed at the North Railway station in Ernakulam. Safeer, a Malayali was taken into custody by the police and he was unaware of the arrest of Sarmeen on Tuesday evening.
During further investigation, the police gathered the information that she sourced the drug from a supplier in Delhi who also happens to be a Malayali.
A team of Kochi police accompanied by officials of the narcotics bureau are on their way to Delhi to collect more details and apprehend the supplier. Sources in the police have confirmed that there is a Nigerian gang who are also involved in procurement and supply of the synthetic drug that is being supplied in various parts of Kerala.
It was following a secret information received by rural SP Vaibhav Saxena that the Aluva special squad conducted the searches in the Kerala express that led to the arrest of Sarmeen Akthar. The synthetic drug was hidden inside the water heater. Police suspect that Sarmeen had been a ‘carrier’ of drugs that was brought from other states to various parts of Kerala.
The seized MDMA is priced at Rs 50 lakh in the drug market says police sources.
“We had clear indications that the woman was arriving at the station to supply the drugs in Kochi. We seized 1 kg of MDMA from the woman. The drug was kept inside the water heater. The woman hails from Delhi, but currently she is coming from Bangalore. We cannot reveal the details as exactly from where she sourced it as it is part of the investigation and revealing the details will affect the probe”, said Sree Lal, SI, Aluva.
Narcotic cell officials said that she has carried the drug to Kochi earlier multiple times and she usually carries it inside water heater or other kitchen utensils.
“She was well dressed and her behaviour did not evoke any suspicion. She got off at the Aluva station and was waiting at the special waiting room. While she was questioned, she admitted that she had carried the drug”, said a senior officer in the Narcotics Bureau.
In one of the biggest drugs bust in recent times, the Kerala police arrested a 26-year-old woman from the Aluva railway station who was found in possession with 1 kg of MDMA (3, 4-methylenedioxy-N-methamphetamine), the banned synthetic drug. Kerala States News India: Top News India, States News, States News Headlines, Online State News India, State Politics news
