Kalpetta: Police here arrested a youth with 40 grams of MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine), which was wrapped around his legs in zip-locked plastic covers. The accused has been identified as Venadiyil V Raziq, 38, a native of Poonoor, Thamarassery, in Kozhikode district.

Police arrested him following a tip-off received by senior officials. Raziq is allegedly a drug peddler engaged in smuggling and retailing drugs in the district.

Police said that any quantity of MDMA of 10 grams or more is considered a commercial quantity, and possession of such an amount invites stringent punishment.

The arrest was made during a joint operation carried out by the District Anti-Narcotics Squad and a police team from Kalpetta police station.

The packets were tied to both legs using cello tape. The accused had been under police surveillance for the past few weeks. A video of the police recovering MDMA from the accused’s body went viral on social media platforms.

The accused twirled his moustache while glancing at the media cameras, a gesture widely viewed as a sign of his disregard for the law. This has triggered widespread criticism on social media regarding the lack of stringent laws to deter such drug peddlers.

Raziq was produced before the Judicial First-Class Magistrate Court in Kalpetta and has been remanded to judicial custody.