A doctor and a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) student were among seven people arrested in a major narcotics bust in Kerala’s capital district, following a joint operation by district anti-narcotics squads, police said.
The arrests were made after a raid on a rented house in the Kaniyapuram Thoppil area, on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram. The operation was carried out by teams from the Attingal and Nedumangad Rural units of the District Anti-Narcotics Special Action Force (DANSAF).
Doctor, student among those arrested
The arrested persons have been identified as Dr Vignesh Dathan, BDS student Haleena, and six others — Asim, Avinash, Ajith, Ansia and Harish. Police said Avinash is an IT professional, while Asim, Ajith and Ansia have previously been accused in multiple narcotics-related cases.
Investigators stated that the involvement of a medical practitioner and a dental student has raised serious concerns, as the group allegedly supplied drugs to students and professionals, including doctors.
Drugs seized during raid
During the raid, police recovered around four grams of MDMA, one gram of hybrid cannabis and 100 grams of ganja. Officials said hybrid cannabis is currently sold at around ₹3,000 per gram in the illicit market.
In addition to narcotics, police seized two cars, two motorcycles and ten mobile phones, which are believed to have been used for coordinating drug distribution.
Network linked to Bengaluru supply
According to investigators, the accused allegedly transported MDMA and other substances from Bengaluru and distributed them across parts of southern Kerala.
Police said the group was operating from rented accommodations to avoid detection and frequently changed locations.
Earlier interception attempt failed
Officials revealed that an earlier attempt to intercept the group had failed after the accused allegedly rammed a police jeep with their car and managed to escape.
Subsequently, police received specific intelligence that the group was hiding in the Kaniyapuram Thoppil area. A team surrounded the house and arrested all seven suspects without further incident.
Investigation continues
Police said further investigation is underway to identify the wider network involved in procurement and distribution of narcotics. More arrests have not been ruled out.
The incident once again highlights the growing challenge of synthetic drug trafficking in Kerala and the increasing involvement of educated youth and professionals, prompting calls for stricter surveillance and awareness measures.