Thiruvananthapuram,26 March (H.S.): A former Santosh Trophy footballer, Najeeb Khan, has been arrested by the Excise Department in Thiruvananthapuram for allegedly possessing and trafficking synthetic drugs. He was taken into custody from a hotel room in the city, where officials recovered approximately four grams of MDMA from his possession.

According to Excise officials, the arrest was made during a joint inspection carried out by the Excise and Narcotics departments as part of a special drive linked to the ongoing election enforcement measures. The operation focused on hotels and lodges across the state capital, which have been under increased surveillance in recent weeks.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the accused had reportedly sourced the MDMA from Bengaluru and was distributing it through hotel rooms in Thiruvananthapuram. Officials said he had been operating a network targeting clients in the city as well as nearby districts, using rented hotel rooms as distribution points.

During interrogation, it emerged that Najeeb Khan had previously represented Kerala in the Santosh Trophy, a premier national football tournament. This revelation came as a surprise to the investigating team, adding a layer of public interest to the case.

Authorities also indicated that several prominent individuals may have been among his clients, though further verification is underway. Investigators suspect that he used a mobile application to connect with potential buyers and coordinate transactions, ensuring discreet delivery of the contraband at hotel premises.

Najeeb Khan is also reported to have been employed with Travancore Titanium Products prior to his arrest. Officials are now expanding the probe to identify his supply chain, financial transactions, and possible links to a larger drug network operating in the region.

Further investigation is in progress.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman