College students targeted; 18-year-old girl, male friend arrested with 37 grams of MDMA

KOCHI: The excise department has seized drugs intended for distribution among college students in Kothamangalam, Ernakulam, and arrested two individuals in connection with the case. The arrested individuals are Risana Fathima (18), a native of Peermade in Idukki, and Ananthu Prasad, a native of Irimalloor in Kothamangalam. According to the officials, the accused were mainly targeting college students for drug sales.

The drugs were brought into Kerala from Bengaluru. The excise team also seized three mobile phones used for drug dealings from the accused. They were caught during an inspection carried out based on a tip-off. Reports suggest that they are key members of a group that buys drugs at a low price and sells them at a high price to students and young people in their area. Further investigation is underway. Officials are examining the phone records of the accused to identify others involved in the drug network.