Published Sep 27, 2026 | 7:56 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 27, 2026 | 7:56 PM
Abootty is survived by his wife, two children who are in kindergarten classes and a sister.
Synopsis: A 41-year-old man from Kannur, Abootty Vellili, was executed in Saudi Arabia on Sunday after being convicted of smuggling 43 kg of narcotics into the country from Oman. He was arrested in 2023 after the drugs were found in a GMC van he was driving. He is survived by his wife, two children who are in kindergarten classes and a sister.
A 41-year-old native of Kannur in Keralam was executed in Saudi Arabia on Sunday, 27 September, after being convicted of smuggling methamphetamine into the country, Saudi newspaper Ajel reported.
The Saudi Ministry of Interior said the man, Abootty Vellili, a native of Peringad in Thalassery, was executed in the Eastern Province after a specialised court found him guilty and sentenced him to death under discretionary punishment.
Abootty was arrested in 2023 after authorities seized 43 kg of narcotics from a GMC van he was driving. The prosecution said the drugs had been smuggled into Saudi Arabia by road from Oman.
The verdict was upheld by the relevant authorities and a royal order was issued for its implementation.
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Abootty is survived by his wife, two children who are in kindergarten classes and a sister. His other three sisters are married. His father died many years ago.
Aslam Chinnan, a neighbour and panchayat representative told South First that Abootty had travelled to Saudi Arabia on a visit visa and could not legally obtain a driving licence there unless he had a job visa. He said questions about the circumstances of the case remained unanswered.
“There had been earlier allegations that a friend from Kannur had defrauded Abootty in connection with his visa, while an Omani sponsor allegedly trapped him in the drug case,” Aslam said.
Aslam said Abootty’s family could not afford proper legal support in Saudi Arabia and is unable to bring Abootty’s body back to Keralam.
(Edited by Dese Gowda with inputs from Sreelakshmi Soman)
