Kerala connection emerges after Noida arrests in MDMA case
KOZHIKODE — A 23-year-old nursing student from Malayinkeezhu in Thiruvananthapuram and his associate were arrested from a luxury flat in Noida in a widening investigation into the seizure of one kilogram of MDMA on May 9 in Pantheerankavu, Kozhikode district police said.
The two detained in Delhi have been identified as P. Surya (23), a native of Malayinkeezhu, Thiruvananthapuram, and C. Ajmal (32), from Nilambur in Malappuram. Police said both were taken into custody after interrogation of three earlier arrestees — Mohammed Arshalal (25), Adilsha (20) and Mohammed Farhan (22) — who were initially held in connection with the Pantheerankavu seizure.
Investigating officers said information obtained during the questioning of the first three suspects pointed to a supply chain originating in Delhi. A specialised team subsequently carried the probe to the National Capital Region and located the flat in Noida that was registered in Surya's name.
Police said the accused confessed to shipping more than ten kilograms of MDMA weekly to various states, including Kerala.
Officials reported that the flat yielded a number of items linked to narcotics distribution and logistics. Seized material from the Noida premises included equipment commonly used in processing and packaging illegal consignments, as well as several ATM cards and instruments for handling cash.
- Digital scale for weighing narcotics
- Packing sealer
- Over 5,000 zip-lock bags
- Currency counting machine
- Numerous ATM cards
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Seized drug | 1 kg MDMA (seized May 9, Pantheerankavu) |
| Arrests (initial) | Mohammed Arshalal (25), Adilsha (20), Mohammed Farhan (22) — natives of Malappuram |
| Arrests (Noida) | P. Surya (23) — Malayinkeezhu, Thiruvananthapuram; C. Ajmal (32) — Nilambur, Malappuram |
| Alleged scale of operations | More than ten kg of MDMA shipped weekly; transactions exceeding ₹5 crore over four months (as per police) |
Police said the accused used a commercial method to ship narcotics: concealing consignments within second-hand cars purchased in Delhi that were subsequently transported to Kerala. The inquiry, according to the report, revealed that the group handled weekly consignments that reached multiple states, with Kerala among the destinations.
Investigators further alleged that the network's turnover over a four-month period exceeded ₹5 crore. The accused were presented before the court and remanded to custody, police said.
The seizure in Pantheerankavu triggered an extended probe by Kozhikode police, who coordinated with teams in Delhi to trace the supply route and identify principals believed to be operating from the capital. Authorities emphasised the inter-state nature of the operation and the use of ordinary commercial channels — notably the movement of used vehicles — to conceal shipments.
Local law-enforcement officials in Kerala have in recent years reported several cases where narcotics were concealed within vehicles transported between states. The present case underlines those concerns and highlights the investigative linkages between district police units and agencies outside Kerala when evidence points beyond state boundaries.
Further procedural action, including forensic examination of seized items and tracing of the financial trail through the ATM cards and currency-handling equipment, was under way, police said. The outcome of those steps will determine whether additional arrests or charges will follow as the probe continues.
The arrests and the material reportedly recovered will form part of the court record as the case proceeds through the criminal-justice system.
