41 Kg Ganja Seized In Kochi; 5, Including 2 Women, Arrested

Following a report of increased smuggling of ganja from other states to Kerala, the Kochi police on Monday seized 41 kg of drugs in two separate raids at Aluva and Perumbavoor. The police arrested five people—three men and two women—in connection with the incident. The search was conducted after Ernakulam District Police Chief Vaibhav Saxena warned of the potential ganja smuggling from other states.

On Monday, following a tip-off, a police team conducted a search operation and intercepted a man and two women at Aluva railway station premises as they stepped out of the train on their way from Odisha.

Read Also: Smell Of Ganja Alone Not Enough To Prosecute Someone: Kerala High Court

The police then found and seized 35 kg of ganja from them and arrested all three—Satya Naik, 28, of Kalahandi, Odisha; Asanti Thakur, 39, of Rayagad, Odisha; and Asha Pramod Lima, 36, of Rayagad, Odisha. According to the police, the trio were carriers hired by an Odisha-based gang. 

In the second case, two West Bengal natives—Kajol Sheikh, 22, of Murshidabad, and Navaj Sharif Bishwas, 29, of Madhubani—were intercepted by the police at Palakkattuthazham, Perumbavoor, in the early hours of Monday.

The duo reportedly procured ganja from West Bengal and reached Kerala by train. After arriving at Aluva station, they were travelling to Perumbavoor in an autorickshaw. The police arrested both and produced them before the court. 

Read Also: Odisha Declares ‘Bhang’ Intoxicant

Last month, police seized around 10 kg of ganja from Ernakulam South and Ernakulam Town railway stations. The officials found the stuff in three abandoned bags. Following the incident, the police had intensified monitoring at railway stations during the train arrivals in the city.

In September, customs at Kochi airport had foiled a gang smuggling bid from a passenger from Bangkok, seizing around 4 kg.