Celebrities among customers, foreign drugs inflow into Kochi

THRISSUR: Drug-laden parcels arriving from foreign countries bypass inspections containing deadly substances like MDMA in Kerala. Simultaneously, marijuana shipments originate from northeastern states. The International Post Office in Kochi serves as a conduit for chemical intoxicants to reach various locations in Kerala.

Excise authorities cite the lack of parcel scanning systems within the postal department as a major obstacle to prevention efforts. These drugs evade normal scanning methods. Recently, a gymnasium trainer in Thrissur was apprehended while receiving 4.70 kg of ganja through the post office dispatched from Shillong in Meghalaya.

The gym owner, Vishnu, was caught with ganja sent from Guwahati via postal delivery. Subsequently, customs surveillance was intensified. Despite Vishnu's release on bail, the ganja trade resumed leading to his rearrest during further investigations.

Instances of drug trafficking involve the use of fake addresses, with recipients signing for parcels under fictitious organization names. Transactions including payments occur through dark web, shielding the true perpetrators from capture.

Previously, in a case involving LSD stamps seized in Kannur, transactions were facilitated through a bitcoin exchange and a dedicated dark website account. Narcotics have been concealed within parcels containing chocolates, sports equipment and beauty products.

The surge in parcel services amid online commerce exacerbates challenges in drug control efforts. There are indications that drug syndicates in northeastern states maintain foreign connections and exploit parcel services with even some celebrities implicated as customers.