Kerala MDMA case: ₹13k salary, lakhs in bank; police to seize accused teachers' assets

Vadakara: The police are moving to confiscate the assets of five accused, including schoolteachers, who were arrested in connection with the Vadakara MDMA case. This step follows findings that transactions worth crores of rupees were routed through the bank accounts of the accused.

The arrested teachers earned monthly salaries of just ₹12,000 to ₹13,000. However, the police discovered lakhs of rupees in their bank accounts. Investigators have also gathered evidence of the accused leading lavish lifestyles. Speaking at a press conference, Kannur Range DIG K Karthik stated that the police will investigate whether these assets were acquired using drug money.

Five suspects are currently in police custody, including Safwan, who was apprehended on July 28. Among them, Jijil Kuriakose, a native of Iritty in Kannur who was the latest to be arrested, processed financial transactions exceeding ₹1 crore through his account over the past year alone. Police believe that Jijil, who worked as an ordinary delivery agent, received these funds through drug trafficking, using his delivery job as a cover for distributing contraband.

DIG K Karthik added that if the accused purchased properties using illicit drug proceeds, those assets would be seized under the NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) Act. Since three of the detainees are teachers, serious concerns were raised over whether they had involved school children in the drug racket. However, Rural SP Merin Joseph stated that no such information has surfaced so far and no complaints have been received from parents or others to date.

Two individuals were arrested on Tuesday alone – Neeshma, a third teacher associated with the Perambra BRC, and Jijil from Iritty. Police suspect Jijil to be a key link in the operation. Officials clarified that further arrests are expected as the investigation continues.