Published Jul 29, 2026 | 10:58 AM ⚊ Updated Jul 29, 2026 | 11:13 AM
The three teachers were close friends, and they allegedly used drugs together.
Synopsis: After interrogating the three teachers arrested in connection with the MDMA probe, the police picked up a delivery worker, Jijil Kuriakose, who allegedly handled the drug racket’s financial dealings.
Police have widened the probe into the Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) network, which had the alleged involvement of three teachers of the Perambra Block Resource Centre (BRC). The special investigation team has now arrested a delivery worker.
He allegedly handled the drug racket’s financial transactions.
Jijil Kuriakose, a resident of Iritty, was arrested on the evening of Tuesday, 28 July, based on information provided by the accused already under arrest.
He was initially brought to the office of the Superintendent of Police, Vadakara, and later transferred to the Vadakara Cyber Cell, where investigators are examining his mobile phone for digital evidence.
Police said cyber experts are scrutinising his call records, chats and financial transactions as part of the probe.
Investigators have found that around ₹1 crore was routed through Jijil’s bank accounts in connection with drug deals over the past year.
The arrest comes a day after a special investigation team was constituted under the direct supervision of the district police chief, with officials saying fresh leads are emerging at every stage of the investigation.
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The case began after Safwan, a Vadakara native, was arrested with two grams of MDMA a few months ago.
His interrogation led police to KC Keerthana, a teacher at Perambra BRC, who was arrested on 12 July.
KC Keerthana
Further questioning led to the arrests of two more teachers, K Kavya of Koorachund and VP Neeshma of Avala, after investigators allegedly found that their bank accounts had also been used to transfer money linked to the drug network.
Police said all three teachers contacted the drug syndicate through Instagram and have stated that they turned to MDMA trafficking as a means of making quick money.
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The dismissal of a second teacher from the Perambra BRC after her arrest in the narcotics case has further fuelled the concern over the alleged involvement of educators in a drug distribution network.
Referring to the arrest of three teachers, Chief Minister VD Satheesan described the development as “shocking,” saying it reflected how deeply the drug mafia had infiltrated society.
“It shows how far the tentacles of the drug mafia have spread into society. It is because of Operation Toofan that these links are being unearthed and those involved are being arrested. The investigation is still in progress,” he said.
The General Education Department on Monday, 27 July, terminated the service of 29-year-old Kavya, a special educator at the autism centre attached to Cheruvaloor GLP School.
Her dismissal came days after the termination of Keerthana, a physical education teacher working under the same BRC, who was arrested earlier in the case.
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The case surfaced during Operation Toofan, a police anti-narcotics drive.
K Kavya
The investigation reportedly began after the arrest of a man carrying MDMA, who allegedly told police that drugs could be ordered through a Gulf-based contact. Investigators traced payment transactions made through a QR code to Keerthana’s bank account.
Further scrutiny of financial transactions allegedly led police to the accounts of both teachers.
The two teachers had been working with children requiring special educational support, making the arrests particularly concerning.
Their colleagues at the Perambra BRC said the developments came as a shock, as there had been no indication of any alleged criminal activity.
VP Neeshma
Police are also examining Keerthana’s previous postings at Kunnummal and Panthalayani BRCs. Officials have acknowledged an earlier complaint involving a financial transaction during her tenure at Panthalayani but said it was unrelated to the current narcotics case.
The issue has also triggered a political controversy, with activists protesting outside the Perambra BRC and alleging that complaints against the teachers had been ignored. BRC authorities denied the claims.
Police said the three teachers were close friends and had consumed MDMA together. They identified and contacted potential customers over Instagram.
