Mangaluru: The City Crime Branch (CCB) police have arrested a 26-year-old man for allegedly selling the banned narcotic substance MDMA from a house in the Kulai Gudde area and supplying it to members of the public, including students. The accused, identified as Annappa Swamy alias Manu, was apprehended during a raid conducted on Thursday, and police seized drugs and other materials worth Rs 2.10 lakh.
Raid conducted following tip-off
According to police, the CCB received credible information that the accused had procured MDMA and was distributing it from his residence in the Kulai Gudde area of the city. Acting on the information, a CCB team conducted a raid on June 25 and arrested the suspect.
During the operation, police seized 15 grams of MDMA valued at approximately Rs 1.50 lakh. They also recovered a mobile phone and a digital weighing scale allegedly used in the sale and distribution of the narcotic substance. The total value of the seized property has been estimated at Rs 2,10,500.
Police suspect that the accused had been supplying the banned drug to several individuals, including students, raising concerns over the growing menace of narcotics in educational institutions and among the youth.
Accused has multiple criminal cases
Police said Annappa Swamy alias Manu, a resident of Hosabettu Kulai, is a repeat offender with several criminal cases already registered against him.
His criminal record includes cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at the Panambur and Bajpe police stations. In addition, he has been booked in an assault and stone-pelting case at the Surathkal Police Station and an attempt to murder case at the Ullal Police Station.
Investigators are now examining whether the accused was part of a larger drug distribution network operating in and around Mangaluru.
Case registered at Surathkal Police Station
A case has been registered against the accused at the Surathkal Police Station under relevant provisions of the NDPS Act, and further investigation is underway. Police officials indicated that several other persons may be involved in the drug supply chain and efforts are on to identify and apprehend them.
The arrest forms part of the ongoing crackdown by Mangaluru police against narcotics trafficking in the coastal district. In recent months, the CCB has intensified its operations against drug peddlers and has made several seizures of MDMA and other narcotic substances in separate cases.
Conclusion
The arrest of the alleged drug supplier and seizure of MDMA worth more than Rs 2 lakh underline the continued efforts of law enforcement agencies to curb narcotics trafficking in Mangaluru. Police have reiterated their commitment to taking stringent action against those involved in the illegal drug trade, particularly individuals targeting students and young people.