Excise in Kochi steps up anti-drug drive with new intelligence wing

The Ernakulam unit of the Excise has stepped up its recreation within the struggle towards drug peddling with a renewed inner intelligence system. Two groups, comprising 22 excise officers, have been deployed to collect intelligence on suspected trafficking of narcotic gadgets and different contraband in a transfer to step up surveillance and preventive measures.

Officers claimed that the mechanism had proved efficient, with the leads from the items leading to at the least 4 seizures within the first week because it was launched.

The circumstances registered following inputs from the intelligence wing embody the arrest of a 28-year-old man with 252.48 grams of suspected MDMA from a lodge within the metropolis not too long ago. In that incident, the alleged drug peddler, Adarsh Sidharthan of Karumadi, Ambalapuzha, was nabbed inside hours since he obtained the contraband. Excise sources mentioned the youth had allegedly collected over 300 grams of the suspected contraband from Manjummel within the suburbs. It’s suspected that he had managed to dump a portion of the contraband to a different peddler earlier than being caught, they added.

“The primary case we detected following leads from the particular inner intelligence squad was over the seizure of 1 gram of MDMA, adopted by two circumstances of 5 grams and 11 grams. The squad includes excise personnel from varied workplaces within the district, and so they have been given freedom to maneuver round in plainclothes,” an excise official mentioned.

The 2 groups are headed by an excise inspector every and comprise preventive excise officers and civil excise officers chosen primarily based on their expertise in earlier operations and publicity to communication applied sciences. Excise officers have additionally began talks with the Narcotics Management Bureau to broaden the intelligence community. “The experience of the nationwide company might be useful in tracing and arresting sources of the contraband that excise officers impound,” the official mentioned.

The excise within the district registered 111 circumstances and arrested 115 individuals below the Narcotic Medicine and Psychotropic Substances Act until January 22. The suspected narcotics seized within the circumstances embody 26.75 kg of ganja, 257.81 grams of MDMA, and 33 grams of heroin, in keeping with official figures.

Revealed – January 28, 2026 01:42 am IST