Rave party at Kochi five-star hotel; Hybrid cannabis supplier identified, police keeping details confidential

KOCHI: The police identified the man who brought hybrid cannabis and cocaine to a drug party at a five-star hotel, where high-ranking members of society were arrested yesterday. Details about him are being kept confidential.

The police recovered five grams of hybrid cannabis, 0.34 grams of cocaine, 0.36 grams of methamphetamine and 0.44 grams of ecstasy pills during a raid at the hotel. The main culprit is Shaji Fernando (Shawn), a native of Thiruvananthapuram. It is reported that he is aiding the drug mafia in Kochi under the guise of an event management firm.

On Friday, a drunken party was organised on the Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation's ship 'Nefertiti'. The seven arrested were those who participated in it. After the party on the ship, they booked a room at a five-star hotel for an 'after party'. The arrested are Austin Jose, a native of Kaloor, lawyer Rohit Nair; Gino Murali, a native of Kodungallur, nutritionist Akbar Shah, a native of Nooranad, Alappuzha, dentist Bensi Rawuthar, a physiotherapist and Kollam native, Seithalavi Fathima, and aviation student Amal Rauf.

Gino Murali was handling the tickets for the drug parties. The police are investigating the list of those who attended the party on the ship. All the events held by Shaji Fernando's event management company in the past months are under surveillance.

Customs will also investigate the drugs brought to the party at the five-star hotel from abroad. There will also be an investigation into parties held on luxury cruises in Kochi. Shaji Fernando is currently under the surveillance of Customs. In December 2025, Customs followed him following information that a cruise party was being held in the open sea under his leadership. After the information was leaked, they escaped inspection by throwing all the drugs into the sea. Shaji was subsequently under the surveillance of Customs and the police. The police arrested eight people during an investigation conducted by the police after their mobile tower location was found in Kochi the previous day.