In a series of well-coordinated operations, the Mangaluru City Crime Branch (CCB) police arrested four notorious criminals involved in drug trafficking and illegal firearms possession, leading to the seizure of significant quantities of drugs, firearms, and cars.
On March 12, 2025, the CCB police acted on a tip-off regarding an individual transporting ganja from Kerala to Mangaluru in a red Swift car (KL-10-BC-6548). The vehicle was intercepted in Arkula, and the driver, Abdul Latheef, also known as Thoku Latheef (29), was arrested. He is a resident of Mangalpady Panchayat, Kasargod district, Kerala, and is currently living in a rented house near Kozhikode Airport, Kerala. Police seized 12.895 kg of ganja, a mobile phone, and the Swift car, valued at Rs 15.70 lakh. Latheef, who has 13 criminal cases registered against him, is accused of supplying firearms in a previous shootout case and has been involved in multiple crimes across Kerala and Karnataka.
On March 13, 2025, CCB police received information about two suspects in a white Volkswagen Polo (MH-02-BT-2287) moving suspiciously near the Karnataka-Kerala border at Talapady. The police intercepted the vehicle near Devipura and arrested Mohammad Aslar (27) and Mohammad Sali (31), both residents of Kasargod district, Kerala. The police recovered a pistol, two live bullets, two mobile phones, and the Volkswagen Polo, with a total value of Rs 10.20 lakh. Aslar has 17 criminal cases against him, including assault, robbery, and drug trafficking, while Sali has 10 cases, including drug trafficking and illegal sand mining.
Across these three operations, the police have recovered three pistols, six live bullets, 12.895 kg of ganja, five mobile phones, and three vehicles. The total estimated value of the seized items is Rs 40.50 lakh.
The operations were carried out under the guidance of Mangaluru Police Commissioner Anupam Agrawal IPS, with supervision from Deputy Commissioners of Police Siddharth Goyal IPS (law and order) and K Ravishankar KSPS (crime and traffic). The CCB team, led by ACP Manoj Kumar Naik, included police inspectors Rafiq K M, PSI Sharanappa Bhandary, and ASIs Mohan K V and Sujan Shetty, who played active roles in the investigations. Further investigations are ongoing to trace other individuals involved in these criminal activities.
