Kerala Police have arrested a Ghanaian national and a woman from Madhya Pradesh in connection with the Malikkadavu MDMA drug trafficking case, taking the total number of arrests to seven, as investigators probe the alleged international drug trafficking network and seek to uncover further links in the case.
The case, which began with the seizure of 139.29 grams of MDMA during Operation Toofan on August 9, has also triggered a political controversy after allegations of links between arrested Youth Congress leader Muhammed Hussain and Chief Minister V.D. Satheeshan.
The newly arrested accused have been identified as Victor Dasaba, a Ghanaian citizen, and Riya Khan alias Sathi Sheikh, who was arrested from Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh.
Investigators suspect Riya Khan to be a key intermediary in the interstate and international MDMA supply network.
The case originated on August 9, when police arrested Youth Congress activist Muhammed Hussain and Abdul Salam in Kasaragod with 139.29 grams of MDMA during the state’s anti-drug campaign, Operation Toofan, launched by Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala. Their interrogation led investigators to Victor Dasaba and Riya Khan.
Muhammed Hussain is a Youth Congress activist who runs a fan-page group titled “Leader V.D. Satheesan”.
The DYFI has alleged that Hussain served as the Chief Minister’s social media coordinator, an allegation that has intensified the political row surrounding the case.
Police said Victor Dasaba has previously been booked in drug-related cases at Kottiyam Police Station in Kollam and Nadakkav Police Station in Kozhikode. He was arrested from a transit home in Kollam.
Victor Dasaba was produced before the Hosdurg Magistrate Court in Kasaragod on September 1.
Riya Khan is expected to be produced before the court after being brought to Keralam on transit remand.
Investigators plan to interrogate both accused to uncover further links in the alleged international drug trafficking network.
The arrests have fuelled political allegations over Muhammed Hussain’s proximity to Chief Minister V.D. Satheeshan.
On August 13, Satheeshan acknowledged that he had visited Hussain at his residence after the latter sustained injuries during a police lathi charge at the Nav Kerala Sadas programme of then Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. However, Satheeshan denied that Hussain was ever part of his social media team.
According to the investigation, the accused transported nearly 500 grams of MDMA from Ernakulam district. Police claim that around 230 grams were distributed in Malappuram and 130 grams in Kannur before the group reached Malikkadavu in Kasaragod to sell the remaining 140 grams, where they were intercepted.
