In a major breakthrough in the ongoing anti-drug campaign, Ernakulam Rural police arrested a 30-year-old man with 1 kg of ganja late Sunday night. The accused, Biplab Mandal, hails from Murshidabad, West Bengal, and was staying in rented accommodation in Kuttamassery.
Acting on a tip-off, Aluva police intercepted Mandal while he was on a motorbike, attempting to distribute the drug among migrant workers in the area. Upon inspection, police found ganja hidden in a shoulder bag, packed into small packets priced at Rs500 and Rs1,000.
In addition to the drug, zip lock covers used for packaging were also seized. The area had been under surveillance for several days due to increasing suspicions of drug activity.
The arrest was part of the district’s intensified drive under the ‘Clean Rural Ernakulam’ campaign. The investigation team included Inspector M.M. Manju Das, Sub-Inspector S.S. Sreelal, and officers Mahin Shah, Abubakar, Muhammad Amir, K.M. Manoj, and K.I. Shihab.
Mandal was produced before the court and remanded to judicial custody.
This is the latest in a series of arrests made by the rural police. Just last week, a youth was caught with 93 vials of heroin in Perumbavoor. Meanwhile, Kalady police have launched a public awareness campaign, including a community walk and run, to urge citizens to report drug-related activity.
