The Kerala Excise department seized 125 grams of MDMA hidden inside the stereo system of a car carrying four adults and an eight-year-old child in Thiruvananthapuram late Tuesday night.
Officials said the bust, under Operation Thunder, points to the increasing use of women and families as a cover for drug trafficking
Despite having precise information about the consignment, officers initially failed to locate the drugs. Four people, Kiran, 35, Akshay, 27, Beena, 55, and Sandhya, 18, were arrested. A search lasting nearly 30 minutes finally led them to the car’s stereo system, where 125 grams of MDMA was found concealed.
Because officers had received specific intelligence about the vehicle and the consignment, the Balaramapuram interception, they said, was possible.
Officials said the presence of women and children could make a vehicle appear to be carrying a family on an ordinary journey, reducing the chances of suspicion during routine checks.
The child, Kiran’s daughter from his first wife, was handed over to relatives. Beena is Kiran’s mother, while Sandhya, 18, is his girlfriend, according to Excise officials.
Officials said their preliminary investigation indicated that both women were aware of the drug trafficking operation and had an active role in it. Excise officials said the investigation could lead them to larger traffickers operating in the capital district.
