Kochi Excise arrests man with 305g MDMA, seizes ₹2.9 lakh in cash

The Ernakulam wing of the Excise department has arrested a 28-year-old man after 305.396 grams of suspected MDMA was recovered from his possession in Kochi. The accused, identified as Shifas A.S., also known as Bappu, is a resident of Panayappilly in Mattancherry.

According to the department, he was taken into custody from a rented apartment in Mattancherry. Along with the suspected synthetic drug, officials seized ₹2,90,000 in cash, which they allege was earned through drug sales, and a mobile phone from the accused.

The arrest followed information gathered by the Excise Intelligence and Investigation Bureau. Investigators suspect that Shifas was involved in distributing synthetic drugs to IT professionals and college students across different parts of Ernakulam district.

The operation was led by Kochi Excise Circle Inspector Prasanth R.

The case is the second major drug haul reported by the agency in recent weeks. In August, four youths were arrested with 281 grams of suspected MDMA in two related cases. A special investigation team is continuing its probe into that earlier case.