Death of youth after swallowing MDMA packets; police’ crucial move after postmortem

KOZHIKODE: The postmortem of Iyyadan Shanid of Thamarassery in Kozhikode, who died after swallowing packets of MDMA on seeing police, will be held this morning. The postmortem will reveal whether MDMA was the cause of death. Further steps will be taken after this. As part of this, the police have decided to record the statements of Shanid's relatives. The postmortem will be held at Kozhikode Medical College.

Shanid swallowed two packets of MDMA on Friday morning. He was first taken to Thamarassery Taluk Hospital. He was later shifted to Kozhikode Medical College but died at 11.20 am yesterday. He was an accused in drug cases. He swallowed the packets containing the drugs after seeing the police near Parammal Mosque in Ambayathode. It is reported that he has been using drugs for two years and was also selling the stuff.

CT scan and endoscopy tests found packets containing white granules in his stomach. The cause of death was the MDMA dissolving in his bloodstream after leaking from the compressed plastic packets.

Although the excise searched Shanid's house, no drugs were found. Shanid, a bachelor, had been in the Gulf for some time. He had been working as a tipper driver for the past eight years. He was a quiet and reserved person. He has no intimate friends. He had been staying at his grandmother Fathima's house for some time and usually comes home late at night.