Published Jun 25, 2026 | 4:03 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 25, 2026 | 4:03 PM
Investigators have already identified the probable source of the hybrid ganja and the route through which it was brought in. (Special Arrangement)
Synopsis: A husband and wife have been nabbed with 18 kilograms of hybrid ganja. Police suspect the duo are key members of an organised trafficking network that is sourcing these drugs from abroad. Their backgrounds are now being probed.
A routine vehicle inspection by the Ernakulam Rural police snowballed into one of Kerala’s largest hybrid ganja seizures, with a small quantity of the drug hidden inside a scooter leading officers to a stash worth ₹18 crore.
The breakthrough came on Wednesday when the Ernakulam Rural District Anti-Narcotics Special Action Force intercepted a scooter near Marampilly, close to Perumbavoor.
The rider, 39-year-old Ayush from Arukad in Vypeen, was found carrying around 1.25 kilograms of suspected hybrid ganja concealed inside a plastic cover.
There was soon to be a bigger revelation. During questioning, investigators gathered information that led them to the apartment where Ayush had recently been staying.
A search of the flat at Kunnuvazhi in Perumbavoor uncovered an additional 16.5 kilograms of suspected hybrid ganja, taking the total seizure to nearly 18 kilograms.
The operation also resulted in the arrest of Ayush’s wife, Anakha, who was present at the flat.
Police said the couple had rented the apartment only about two weeks earlier, allegedly to facilitate the drug operation.
Addressing reporters at the Ernakulam Rural police headquarters in Aluva on Thursday, Ernakulam Range Deputy Inspector General GH Yathish Chandra described the seizure as one of the most significant achievements under the state’s ongoing anti-drug campaign, Operation Toofan.
According to the DIG, investigators have already identified the probable source of the contraband, the route through which it entered the country, and several individuals connected to the supply chain.
However, he declined to reveal further details, citing the ongoing investigation.
When asked whether the drugs originated in Thailand, Chandra noted that such high-grade cannabis products frequently arrive from that region, although the exact source would be established only after detailed interrogation and further inquiry.
Police believe the arrested couple were operating as wholesale dealers for a much larger trafficking network.
“Such a large quantity could not have been procured and distributed by two individuals alone. There are people above them and below them in the chain,” a senior officer with anti-narcotics wing said.
“We are working to identify every layer of the network, from major suppliers to local distributors and end-point retailers,” the officer added.
Officials revealed that the seizure was the culmination of an undercover operation that had been underway for nearly two weeks.
Acting on intelligence inputs, the anti-narcotics team conducted surveillance before finally moving in on the suspects.
District Police Chief PS Sudarshan and Perumbavoor ASP Hardik Meena supervised the operation carried out by the district anti-narcotics squad.
Investigators are now examining the backgrounds of the accused to determine whether they were involved in similar activities in the past.
Preliminary checks, however, have not yet revealed any significant criminal history linked to drug trafficking.
The Ernakulam police range is meanwhile developing a comprehensive database to map the hierarchy of drug networks operating within and beyond Kerala.
Also Read: How a pressure cooker ratted out ‘ganja peddler’ in Kerala
(Edited by R Rajesh Kumar.)
