KOCHI: Okafor Ese Emmanuel (39), a native of Nigeria who manufactured and smuggled kilos of MDMA to Kerala with the help of a Malayali middleman, was arrested by Palarivattam police. He was caught from the African Colony in RK Puram, Bengaluru. An assistant who was with him ran away. The investigation was intensified for the Malayali intermediary.

On July 20, Haroon Sultan (22), of CM Madauvur House at Link Road near Kalur Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium , was caught with 100 grams of MDMA filled in a sip-up cover. After Haroon, Alin Joseph, Niju Peter and Alan Tony were also arrested. From questioning them, it was learned that Varghese Joseph, a native of Fort Kochi, was living in Bengaluru and was sending a large quantity of MDMA. The information about Ese came from questioning him.

After learning that the people who bought the drugs had been arrested, Ese turned off his mobile phone and changed his residence, but the police found that he was in KR Puram, Bengaluru. A team led by Palarivattam CI reached here last day and arrested him.

Ese, who came to India four years ago, 'cooks' MDMA for an African drug gang. During six months, 4.5 kg of MDMA was brought by the Malayalees from Ese. The accused was remanded.