2 held with 10 kg of ganja in Kozhikode

Kozhikode: The police on Tuesday arrested two men after seizing a large quantity of ganja that was reportedly being trafficked for sale among youngsters in the Thamarassery area. The duo, who were travelling in an autorickshaw, were caught near the toll plaza on the Bypass Road along the National Highway. Police confirmed that 10 kg of ganja was seized from them.

The accused are Kannadikkal Shaji alias Shaji CK (45), a native of Kannadikkal in Kozhikode, and Thalekkunnummal K Abdul Kareem (52) from Cheruvayur near Vazhakkad.

The operation was led by Sub-Inspector Nithin, along with a team from the District Anti-Narcotics Special Action Force (DANSAF) under Assistant Commissioner KA Boss, in coordination with the City Narcotic Cell and the Pantheerankavu Police.

The two accused were intercepted while travelling to Ramanattukara after arriving from Coimbatore by bus.

“They had planned to deliver the ganja to drug dealers in Thamarassery, Kaithappoyil, Adivaram, and Koduvally. The gang was targeting youngsters for sales,” police said.

Police added that both men were notorious thieves, and Shaji Kannadikkal had been under the DANSAF’s radar as an extradited criminal under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA).

Shaji had completed his KAAPA punishment period in 2024 and had since been frequently travelling to Coimbatore under the guise of a catering business. His repeated trips raised suspicion among investigators, who later received information linking him to a ganja trafficking network. Acting on a tip-off about his return from Coimbatore with an accomplice, police launched the operation that led to the arrests.

The duo are currently being questioned to identify other members of the drug network.