Alappuzha: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has officially taken interest in the April seizure of hybrid ganja worth ₹2 crore, a case now believed to involve international crime networks far beyond the jurisdiction of the state excise department.
By the end of May, the ED had received critical case files from the excise team, which had already filed a chargesheet naming three accused: Tasleema Sultana alias Cristina (41), her husband Sultan Ali Akbar (43), and their associate K Firoz. Tasleema and Firoz were arrested on April 1 after being caught with 3 kg of hybrid ganja—an expensive and highly potent variety reportedly meant for high-profile users in Alappuzha and Ernakulam.
Sultan, arrested a week later, was identified as a key operator. Investigations revealed that he had made multiple trips to countries like Malaysia and Thailand, posing as an electronics dealer but allegedly maintaining ties with gold and narcotics traffickers. The ED is probing his suspicious financial transactions and use of duplicate passports, reportedly obtained by falsely declaring old ones lost. Sultan had used short-term travel documents and emergency certificates to re-enter India, raising red flags about his intentions and international links.
Further deepening the case, investigators found the couple to be connected with global rackets in gold smuggling, drug and sex trafficking. Tasleema allegedly told authorities that she had supplied drugs to celebrities in the Malayalam film industry, with actor Sreenath Bhasi among the 55 witnesses listed.
Due to its complex, multi-national dimensions, the case may soon be fully transferred to central agencies.