A Thamarassery native, who allegedly swallowed synthetic drugs in dangerous quantities on seeing a police enforcement squad, died at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital on Saturday (March 8, 2025). The victim was identified as Iyyadan Shanid, 28, a resident of Karimpalakkunnu near Maikkavu in Thamarassery.
The youth was taken into police custody on Friday (March 7, 2025) morning after he was suspected of carrying MDMA for local sales. Police sources said he swallowed two zip covers filled with the drug immediately on seeing them and tried to run away from the spot.
Later, an endoscopic test conducted at the Medical College hospital confirmed that he swallowed the MDMA packets. Based on the finding, the police also registered a case against him. The man who was put under intensive medical care was declared dead at 10 a.m.
According to police sources, Shanid was suspected of dealing with synthetic drugs and he was under scanner. The youth was taken into custody from Ambayathode where he was allegedly waiting for his clients, they said.
Police sources said the total quantity of drug he swallowed was yet to be clear and they were waiting for the post mortem report. They also said timely medical support had been extended to the man along with the legal proceedings.
Noticing an increase in the number of drug pushers, the Anti narcotics squad had intensified their flash inspections in the city and rural areas of Kozhikode district. There were also instructions from the police higher ups to carry out frequent inspections in suspected drug hotspots with the support of District Anti Narcotics Special Action Force.
According to the official figures with the District Crime Records Bureau (DCRB), the Anti-narcotics squad registered 363 cases from January 2025 to February 22, 2025 in Kozhikode city limits alone. Within this short period, 387 suspected carriers had been arrested. There were eight commercial quantity cases and three medium quantity cases. The total quantity of MDMA seized during the period was 1.64 kg.
Recently, Operation D Hunt was also carried out in Kozhikode district to suppress the network of drug pushers. The Kozhikode city police were able to register 178 cases apart from arresting 181 suspects.
Last year, the total number of arrests recorded in connection with drug trafficking cases in Kozhikode city was 1991. There were altogether 1835 cases. There were 32 commercial quantity seizures and 36 medium quantity seizures. According to the DCRB figures, 3.10 kg of MDMA were recovered from the suspects. There were also instructions to the local police to zero in on suspects at large in connection with local drug peddling cases.
Published – March 08, 2025 01:10 pm IST
