In a dramatic early morning operation on Wednesday, two men were arrested with more than 36 kg of cannabis following a high-risk chase at Perumbilavu, near Kunammkulam, as part of Operation Toofan – The Narco Hunt.

The accused have been identified as Sanal (24), a native of Manthoppu in Chovannur, near Kunnamkulam, and Mubashir (25) from Pallikkara in Nannamukku, Malappuram. They were apprehended by the Kunnamkulam police and a District Anti-Narcotic Special Action Force (DANSAF) team.

Acting on a tip-off, the police attempted to intercept the suspects’ vehicle at Perumpilavu. However, the accused allegedly drove their vehicle towards the police officers in a bid to escape, colliding with a vehicle driven by DANSAF sub-inspector Rakesh. The officers had a narrow escape and the suspects sped away.

Police teams then pursued and eventually intercepted the vehicle and overpowered the duo after a tense chase. A search of the vehicle led to the seizure of cannabis weighing over 36 kg, packed in sacks. The contraband is believed to have been transported from Bengaluru for distribution in Kerala.

The police said Sanal is listed as a habitual offender at the Kunnamkulam police station and has been involved in similar cases in the past. The DANSAF team had been monitoring the accused based on prior records.

Thrissur City Police Commissioner Nakul R. Deshmukh said strict enforcement drives against narcotics will continue. He urged the public to report drug use or trafficking by sharing precise location details with the nearest police station or by sending a WhatsApp message to 99959 66666, or calling 94979 27797 and 94979 79794.