Thiruvananthapuram: Drug syndicates have adopted a new strategy to bypass ongoing, rigorous anti-narcotics drives. In an effort to avoid interception while transporting synthetic drugs from outside the state, syndicates are now attempting to manufacture MDMA locally within Kerala.

According to findings by the police and Excise intelligence wings, several centres producing MDMA on a large scale are operating within the state.

Intelligence hints indicate that these facilities, known as ‘cooking houses’, are located in the Ernakulam and Malappuram districts. These clandestine operations are suspected to be functioning out of flats or private residential houses.

Chemists synthesise these narcotic substances through chemical reactions in improvised laboratories. Syndicates are reportedly bringing in chemists from African nations, Europe and Iran for this purpose. Local networks are responsible for setting up the necessary laboratory infrastructure and supplying raw chemical materials.

With border checks and inspections tightened across state lines, syndicates have also shifted strategies toward smuggling MDMA directly from abroad rather than relying on neighbouring Indian states. Recent seizures of synthetic drugs in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram revealed that the confiscated MDMA had been manufactured in Iran.

The synthetic drug is being sold in crystal form as well as in capsules, commanding a price of up to ₹5,000 per gramme. The total quantity of MDMA seized has surged sharply compared to previous years.

Under Operation Toofan and Operation Thunder, total MDMA seizures so far stand at

  • Police: 28.36 kg

  • Excise: 26.57 kg