TVM narcotics bust: Secret room in house can store 1000 kg of ganja; hidden compartment found in van too

Thiruvananthapuram: A man who had built secret chambers inside his house and was engaged in large-scale trade of ganja (cannabis) and narcotic drugs has been arrested. Aneef Khan (42), residing near Chacka ITI, was arrested by the State Excise Enforcement Squad and the Excise IB. He had been under surveillance by the Excise Department for over a week.

In 2024, Aneef Khan was nabbed by the Excise for smuggling 20 kilograms of ganja in a hidden compartment inside the van on the Pachalloor bypass. Before that, he was arrested in Kazhakkoottam with narcotics.

He had constructed a three-storey house in a residential area near Chacka ITI. On the second floor of the house, he had build two secret chambers. The upper part of the wall on the second floor was covered with wooden panels. During a detailed inspection, the Excise team noticed a bolt among the panels. When they loosened the bolt, the panel shifted, revealing a hidden compartment. This chamber was large enough to accommodate at least ten people.

The second hidden space was behind the shelf under the washbasin on the same floor. Upon inspection, the shelf completely detached and revealed a small door, through which a person could crouch and enter. Beyond the door was a chamber the size of a room, which was not noticeable from the outside. The chambers were capable of secretly storing up to 1,000 kilograms of ganja.

From the house, the authorities recovered 13 kilograms of ganja, a small quantity of MDMA, weighing scales used for measuring drugs like MDMA and ganja, and small plastic packets used for packing narcotics.

Based on a tip off received by Assistant Excise Commissioner Krishnakumar, the investigation and inspection were led by Excise Inspectors T.R. Mukesh Kumar, K.V. Vinod, R.G. Rajesh, Preventive Officers Vishakh, Shaji, Prakash, Bijuraj, and Civil Excise Officers Subin and Vishakh from the squad. The arrest was carried out by a team led by Thiruvananthapuram Excise Inspector Rejilal.