Smuggles MDMA hidden inside menstrual cup: Saritha, Shafi arrested 

KOCHI: The woman arrested with MDMA the other day concealed the drug inside a menstrual cup in an attempt to evade detection. The accused identified as Saritha (30) from Alappuzha and her partner Mohammed Shafi (29) of Thrikunnappuzha, were arrested for trafficking MDMA.

Shafi was arrested from a lodge in Ernakulam South on Wednesday night with 65.27 grams of MDMA. Saritha was arrested when she was returning from Alappuzha, where she had hidden the remaining 28.76 grams of the drug at her house.

Saritha, a home nurse and divorcee, has been in a relationship with Mohammed Shafi for the past four years. Shafi is already an accused in two narcotics cases in Alappuzha. Investigators say he regularly travelled to Bengaluru to procure MDMA, transporting it to Kerala by bus while frequently changing vehicles to avoid detection. Saritha got off the bus while the police were checking her vehicle at Iritty in Kannur on her way back from Bengaluru with Shafi and then reached Kochi in another bus.

The excise department launched the operation after a buyer who allegedly purchased MDMA from the duo was arrested. Officials kept surveillance at the Ernakulam lodge until Saritha returned, leading to her arrest.

Investigators believe the couple supplied MDMA to major nightlife parties in Kochi, selling it in quantities of 5 to 10 grams. The dealings are via the signal app and used the encrypted signal messaging app under the name ‘weather’ to coordinate drug transactions.

The accused purchased 100 grams of MDMA for Rs 1.10 lakh (Rs 1,100 per gram) and allegedly sold it in Kerala for Rs 3,200–Rs 4,000 per gram, earning an estimated revenue of at least Rs 3.2 lakh. The operation was led by Ernakulam Excise Inspector Abhiraj.