Drug case accused arrested in Abu Dhabi; Kerala Excise Dept makes history

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Excise Crime Branch has arrested a drug case accused in Abu Dhabi, three years after he fled abroad. The accused, identified as Shaun Sunil Bert (24), a native of Valiyaveli, Attipra, Thiruvananthapuram, was arrested with the help of authorities in Abu Dhabi. He is expected to be brought to Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday morning. This is the first time the Kerala Excise Department has travelled abroad and secured the arrest of an accused in a drug case.

The drugs were seized at around 7 pm on July 9, 2023, during a vehicle inspection at Net Junction in Pulimath, Attingal. The Excise team recovered 155.480 kg of ganja and 70.71 grams of MDMA being transported in a vehicle. Shaun Sunil was the eighth accused in the case.

Four other accused were arrested from the spot. They were identified as Karlouis Anandan (34), Joshua Simon (24), Anu Antony (34) and J Shibu (20). The fifth accused, Deepak Johnson (34), who was staying in a rented house at Madhavapuram Colony, Kochuveli, and the sixth accused, Titu T.S. (37), of Love Nest, Vallakkadavu, Muttathara, were arrested later. The seventh accused, Ajin Achankunju (22), was also subsequently arrested.

The drug seizure was carried out by a team led by B.L. Shibu, who was then the Circle Inspector of the Thiruvananthapuram Excise Anti-Narcotic Special Squad.

Red notice led to arrest

The investigation team sought the assistance of international agencies to bring Shaun Sunil back to India. Further steps were taken in coordination with the Union Home Ministry, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Narcotics Control Bureau. Interpol issued a Red Notice against him on June 21, 2024. He was eventually handed over to Indian authorities following coordination with the Narcotics Control Bureau in Abu Dhabi.

Excise Circle Inspector P.S. Sujith, Assistant Police Sub-Inspector B. Shobhan Babu and Civil Excise Officer B. Yadu Krishnan travelled to Abu Dhabi to secure his arrest and return. Meanwhile, the final chargesheet in the case was submitted before the Additional Sessions Court on January 3, 2024, by Pradeep Rao, who was then the Circle Inspector of the Thiruvananthapuram Crime Branch.