Police Target Assets of Special Educators Linked to Kerala Synthetic Drug Ring
Authorities in Kozhikode Rural have moved to seize property from five suspects, including three teachers, allegedly involved in an inter-state drug network. The investigation is now tracking digital money trails and potential school-level reach.
Financial Sanctions and Property Forfeiture
The Kozhikode Rural police have invoked Section 68F of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, to freeze assets belonging to five individuals recently detained in the Perambra synthetic drug investigation. This legal maneuver targets the financial infrastructure of the syndicate, aiming to strip suspects of wealth generated through illegal trafficking. Following local procedural completion, a formal forfeiture proposal will be sent to the Chennai-based Appellate Tribunal under the Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Act.
Expanding the Special Investigation Team’s Scope
A newly formed Special Investigation Team (SIT), operating under the oversight of Deputy Inspector General K. Karthik and District Police Chief Merin Joseph, is currently mapping a complex multi-state network. The probe centers on the roles of special educators K.C. Keerthana, K. Kavya, and V.P. Neeshma, who allegedly acted as financial intermediaries for major traffickers. Their involvement came to light after the initial arrest of Safwan in Vadakara and the subsequent detention of Jijin Kuriakose, an online delivery worker from Iritty. To prevent any flight risk, authorities have increased surveillance at district borders and airports.
The Digital Money Trail and Educational Contacts
Detectives are scrutinizing digital evidence to identify local facilitators who managed clandestine financial transactions. The investigation has raised specific red flags regarding:
- Overseas travel history of one accused teacher.
- Social gatherings organized under the guise of teacher training sessions.
- Financial links to four additional suspects, including an individual from Wayanad.
While parents of local students have expressed anxiety regarding potential drug exposure in schools, senior officials state they have found no evidence yet of students being directly targeted or involved. However, the SIT plans to interrogate additional teachers who maintained frequent contact with the accused to determine if the network's influence extended further into the education sector.
Source: The Hindu — National
