A 19-year-old college student and her boyfriend were arrested by the Excise Department for allegedly possessing and trafficking high-grade narcotics worth Rs 30 lakh in Kerala’s Ernakulam district.
The accused were identified as Ananthu Prasad (24) from Yeramallur near Kothamangalam and Rizana Fatima (19) from Yelappara near Peermedu in Idukki district. Police said Rizana Fatima had moved to Kothamangalam for her college education but dropped out during her first year.
Investigations revealed that she later joined Ananthu Prasad in illegal drug trafficking. Acting on a tip-off, Excise Inspector Pramod and his team kept the duo under surveillance.
Officials found that the pair had been staying in expensive hotel rooms, reportedly costing around Rs 3,000 per day, indicating a lavish lifestyle.
Subsequently, the Excise team raided the hotel room where they were staying and seized MDMA, a synthetic drug, valued at approximately Rs 30 lakh.
Preliminary inquiry indicated that the accused were storing and selling the contraband.
Both were arrested on the spot, and further investigation is under way to trace the source and network involved in the drug supply chain.
