Kochi: On March 28, 2026 police arrested 8 people with drugs from a luxury hotel in Kadavanthra. Based on the information received during their interrogation, a police team reached a lodge at Vattekkunnam in Kalamassery. Ziyad and Adil Ansar were arrested from there with MDMA and ganja.

The investigation was then expanded to those who had supplied drugs to the two. This led to the arrest of Shameer, a native of Palluruthy. The probe did not stop there. Investigators found that a person named Kevin, a native of Thodupuzha, had supplied drugs to Shameer. Police laid a trap for Kevin and waited.

After several days of surveillance, Kevin Mathew was arrested at Vazhakkala with 183.55 grams of MDMA and 93.51 grams of ecstasy tablets. The investigation then focused on the network supplying drugs to Kevin.

Investigators found that the accused was a wholesale drug dealer from Pathanamthitta. Efforts were launched to apprehend him.

Police lay trap

Police identified Varun Das, a native of Thiruvalla, as the wholesale supplier. Varun had reduced his phone usage and conducted calls mostly through WhatsApp, making it difficult for investigators to trace him. Police launched a special operation, dubbed ‘Operation Varun,’ to track him down.

While police surveillance was continuing, the Excise team arrested Siddiq, a native of North Paravur, and his 18-year-old female friend from a hotel in the Kaloor area with MDMA. The Excise investigation then turned towards those who had supplied drugs to them.

During interrogation, it emerged that Varun Dev, a native of Pathanamthitta-Thiruvalla, had supplied the drugs. The Excise team learned on the day of the arrests that Varun had finalised a drug deal in Kochi and began efforts to apprehend him.

The team received information that Varun Dev and his associates were travelling in a jeep from Kottayam towards Vyttila. The officers lay in wait and intercepted the vehicle. After a dramatic chase, Varun was caught at Vyttila Junction. A search inside the jeep led to the recovery of another 232 grams of MDMA, concealed underneath the steering wheel.

Varun’s friend was also in the vehicle. Both were arrested. During detailed interrogation, the Excise officials realised that they had caught the same Varun whom the police had been searching for.

His vehicle, valued at Rs 30 lakh, has been seized. Investigators also found that he owned a luxury car and flats in Ernakulam. He reportedly often introduced himself to people as a lawyer.

Transactions worth crores

According to the Excise department, Varun sourced MDMA from the Pakistan border at around Rs 500 per gram. The drug costs Rs 1,500-2,000 per gram in Bengaluru and is sold for around Rs 4,000 per gram in Kerala.

The group reportedly dealt only in bulk quantities and accepted orders of more than 100 grams. Investigators found that the network had amassed crores through the trade. Transactions worth Rs 14 crore alone were traced through a bank account operated by Kevin, Varun’s intermediary.

Girls recruited for drug distribution

The group allegedly recruited women for drug distribution by targeting students aged 18 to 20 who came to cities for their studies. The Excise investigation found that the women were lured with money and, in some cases, made dependent on drugs before being recruited into the network.

Investigators believe the strategy was adopted to evade checks and avoid detection.