Debt increased when cafe in Kochi closed; repeated calls from 'customers'; all transactions done through UPI

KOCHI: A Palakkad native was arrested in Kochi with the drug MDMA. Muhammed Shabib was arrested by the Mulavukad police. Shabib told the police that he used to run a cafe, which was closed, and that he turned to drug dealing to pay off his debts and start a new coffee shop. He came to Kochi city from Palakkad two years ago.

Shabib was staying in a rented house in Kaloor. He turned to drug dealing to earn money after his debts increased. The police are preparing for a detailed investigation into the incident in which MDMA was seized from him. The accused admitted to the police that he had brought drugs from Bengaluru and sold them in Kochi.

Shabib used to deal drugs to youth and students. After arresting Shabib, his mobile phone was taken into police custody. His phone records will be checked in detail. The money transactions of the MDMA business were done through UPI. Many people, unaware of his arrest, called the phone in police custody.

The police are moving to expand the investigation by focusing on those who supplied drugs to Shabib and those who bought drugs from him. An investigation will be conducted into his bank account as well.