Thodupuzha, 19 August (H.S.): Four persons, including a Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) leader, have been arrested after police allegedly seized synthetic drugs and hybrid cannabis from them at Edavetty in Thodupuzha, Idukki district.

The arrested have been identified as T.S. Shiyas, secretary of the DYFI Thekkumbhagam regional committee and a member of its Thodupuzha block committee, and his associates Arshid, Ashiq and Niyan.

According to police, the four were intercepted during an inspection conducted as part of Operation Thoofan, the statewide drive against narcotic drugs. The arrests were made near Thekkumbhagam on Tuesday night while the accused were travelling in two vehicles.

Police said they recovered 18 grams of MDMA and 10 grams of hybrid cannabis from the suspects. They were taken to the police station. The vehicles in which they were travelling were also taken into custody as part of the investigation.

The Thodupuzha police are examining the source of the seized drugs and investigating whether the accused were involved in their distribution. Their mobile phones and recent contacts are also expected to be scrutinised to determine if they were linked to a wider narcotics network operating in the region.

Police said Arshid had previously been caught in a drug-related case. On that occasion, the quantity allegedly recovered from him was small enough for him to secure bail at the police station. He had subsequently been placed under police surveillance.

Shiyas had earlier contested an election to the Thodupuzha Block Panchayat. As a DYFI office-bearer, he had also participated in campaigns and marches organised against drug abuse.

The arrest of a youth organisation leader who had publicly campaigned against narcotics has triggered discussion in local political circles. Police said further investigation was underway to establish the individual role of each accused and identify others who may have supplied the contraband.

Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman