The Excise Department has arrested four youths with 281 gram of suspected MDMA from Kochi in two related cases, in one of the largest drug seizures as part of the ongoing Onam special drive in Keralam.

The arrested have been identified as — Varun Dev, 35, of Nedumbram, Thiruvalla; Vipin S. Kumar, 30, of Muthoor, Thiruvalla; Sidhique Kanjirapparambil, 27 of North Paravur and Finala Maria D’Rozario, 18, of Pachalam.

While Mr. Kanirapparambil and Ms. D’Rozario were nabbed from a luxury hotel at Kaloor recently with 49 gram of the suspected synthetic drug, the other two were arrested on Saturday (August 22, 2026) from Vyttila.

Mr. Varun Dev and Mr. Kumar were arrested by the Excise team after intercepting their four-wheeler vehicle at the busy Vyttila junction following the probe into the first case, according to the Excise. The Excise seized 232 gram of suspected MDMA and 2.98 gram of suspected hashish oil from them.

“The contraband were concealed beneath the steering wheel. The gang used to traffic synthetic drugs from Delhi by road to be sold in Kerala. They used women as carriers,” S. Vinod Kumar, Joint Excise Commissioner, said.

The officer said the vehicle used for allegedly transporting the contraband, six mobile phones and ₹69,500 in cash have been seized from the arrested people.

The Ernakulam Excise wing has so far registered 95 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act as part of the Onam special drive which started on August 1.

Published - August 23, 2026 01:48 pm IST