Aluva: A special team of Kerala police will go to Delhi following a major drug bust at Aluva in Ernakulam district. A 26-year-old woman was arrested from Aluva railway station on Tuesday with over 1 kg of MDMA (Methylenedioxymethamphetamine). It is one of the biggest drug hauls by Aluva police in recent times.
The police have learnt that the carrier, Sarmeen Akhtar, is a native of West Bengal and was residing in Bengaluru. During the interrogation, the cops gathered that she sourced the drug from a supplier in Delhi. Although initial information suggests that her supplier is a Malayali, police are also probing Nigerian links in the supply of MDMA from Delhi to Kerala.
A Malayali named Safeer was also taken into custody from Ernakulam North railway station on Tuesday night in connection with the case. Sarmeen was supposed to hand over the contraband to Safeer. He was waiting at the station unaware of her arrest in Aluva.
Criminal records showed that one more drug smuggling case was registered against Sarmeen at Kalamasery police station. Narcotic cell officials said she is known to carry MDMA in pressure cookers and other kitchen utensils. The suppliers choose a woman carrier to avoid suspicion. She was well-dressed and her behaviour did not evoke any doubts, police said. Once she was cordoned, she admitted to police that she was carrying the drug.
Sarmeen travelled in sleeper class and after getting off at Aluva railway station, she was found in the waiting room. She carried a suitcase and a bag. MDMA was found wrapped in an aluminium foil hidden inside an electric water heater. The heating coils and other components of the heater were removed to plant the MDMA. Police said this would be sold to buyers in small sachets weighing 10 gm at Rs 3000 per packet. While the actual value of the MDMA seized from her is above Rs 50 lakhs, police said that business worth crores would be done using 1kg of MDMA.
The police strengthened the surveillance following the recent seizure of drugs at Angamaly and Chengamanadu. However, comparatively small quantities were seized from these places and police got a tip-off that a woman dressed in jeans and top would be carrying MDMA for retail supply by Kerala Express.
Safeer, who was arrested from Ernakulam North, is also being questioned to ferret out more information about the Delhi supplier.
