Kochi: Excise Foils Novel Drug Drop-off Operation

Ernakulam excise special squad has arrested a West Bengal native with 1.06kg of ganja, thwarting a drug drop-off operation in Chakkaraparambu. This incident highlights the increasing adoption of 'drug dropping' by narcotics traffickers to bypass enforcement agencies. The accused was apprehended on Tuesday while allegedly attempting to leave a ganja packet in a vacant plot.

This method involves buyers transferring money upfront, after which sellers hide drug parcels at designated spots and share location details with customers. Common drop-off points include metro pillars, parking slots, and house numbers. This arrest is part of a larger operation targeting organized narcotics networks in Ernakulam.

Enforcement agencies are intensifying surveillance and night patrols across Ernakulam to counteract these clandestine drug distribution methods. Recently, 22kg of ganja was seized from another accused known as 'Psycho Sabu', who allegedly used a 'water dropping' method. A Tamil Nadu native was also arrested a month prior with 18kg of ganja linked to a similar drop-off network.

In a separate operation, three interstate workers were arrested with approximately 20kg of ganja near Athani Signal Junction as part of 'Operation Toofan'. The accused, from West Bengal and Manipur, were found with the contraband concealed in travel bags on a tourist bus, which police believe was en route to Kochi city.