Two youths transporting ganja worth Rs 3 lakh arrested in Alappuzha

ALAPPUZHA: Two youths transporting ganja of Rs 3 lakh were arrested as part of the excise department’s special hunt to prevent the brewing and sale of illicit liquor and drug trafficking during Onam season in the district. The youths were arrested from Pathinonnam Mile in Cherthala on Tuesday morning and four kg ganja was also seized from them.

Excise special squad circle inspector V Robert said that the arrested had been identified as Manu, 21, Pambukadu House and Midhun, 20, Kizhakke Kadavil . Both are hailing from Mannancherry here.

They were arrested by the excise sleuths led by sub-inspector Amal Rajan. They were arrested at 11.30 am and their bike was also taken into custody. “When we grilled them, they told that large quantity of ganja brought from Andhra Pradesh and stored in Chennai by the members of their network. They brought it to Alappuzha from Chennai in tune with the demand in their motorcycle. They are the wholesale dealers of ganja and they sold one kg and above quantity ganja to their customers. Manu is an accused in ganja case registered by Cherthala police and both the accused were residing in Chennai as part of their job. They brought ganja from Chennai in the two-wheeler. They mainly rode the bike through small roads for skipping check posts and police checking. We have also seized Rs 10,000 which they collected by selling ganja,” said the CI.

"We have received information that eyeing on Onam season, large quantities of ganja would be brought to Alappuzha town, Aroor and Thuravoor. So, the people related to ganja sale were under our scanner in Alappuzha district. Thus, we arrested the duo. Our hunt is going on. When we grilled them, they have confessed that they had connection to the ganja mafia located at Visakhapatnam , Chennai and Ernakulam. We have launched a special hunt for tracing them," said the CI.

In a raid conducted at Eramalloor near Cherthala recently, excise department sleuths arrested a 26-year-old youth and seized 1.25 kilogram of ganja.The arrested was identified as Jaison Joseph, of Kallarackal house, Poonithura, Ernakulam.

As part of the special drive, the department has opened a round-the-clock control room. The identity of persons who pass on information about illegal activities will be kept secret. Other than the control room, people can also contact Excise Department offices and officers in the district, officials said.

Contact numbers are 0477 2252049 (control room); 0477 2251639 (excise special squad), 9496002864 (assistant excise commissioner, Alappuzha); 9447178056 (excise deputy commissioner); 0478-2813126, 9400069483, 9400069484 (Cherthala); 0477-2230183, 9400069485, 9400069486 (Alappuzha); 0477-2704833, 9400069487 (Kuttanad); 0479-2452415, 9400069488, 9400069489(Chengannur); 0479-2340265, 9400069490, 9400069491 (Mavelikara); 0479-2412350, 9400069492, 9400069493 (Haripad); 0477-2251639, 9400069494, 9400069495 (excise enforcement and anti narcotic special squad, Alappuzha).