The Thrissur city police seized about 308 g of MDMA and arrested seven persons during a special anti-narcotics drive conducted as part of the State police’s “Toofan Strike” campaign. The special inspection, which began on June 26, led to seizures at three locations based on intelligence gathered by the District Anti-Narcotic Special Action Force (DANSAF).

The first seizure was made during a vehicle inspection at Vaniyampara in the Peechi police station limits, where police recovered 2 g of MDMA from four persons travelling in a car from a resort at Muthalamada in Palakkad district to Thrissur. The arrested were identified as Shifas, 26, of Kakassery; Vidya, 28, of Nenmini, Thaikkad; Jishnu, 27, of Nambazhikkad, Akathiyur, and Sreelakshmi, 20, of Nambazhikkad.

Based on information obtained during the investigation, police also raided a location near Shifas’ residence at Bund Road in the Pavaratty police station limits early on Saturday and recovered another 18 g of MDMA, taking the total seizure in the case to 20 g.

Further examination of mobile phone records and messages led investigators to another suspected hideout at Pancharamukku near Chavakkad. In a joint operation by the Thrissur DANSAF and Kunnamkulam squad, police recovered about 288 g of MDMA concealed inside an aluminium fabrication workshop. T.T. Sumesh, 25, of Janakippady, Elavally; Shebeer, 34, and Anshad, 31, both of Angadithazham, Chavakkad, were arrested. Sumesh was later handed over to the Peechi police for further investigation.

City Police Commissioner Nakul R. Deshmukh said investigations were under way to trace the source of the synthetic drug, identify the distribution network and apprehend others involved in the racket.