ATTINGAL: The drug catch in the state is showing no slowing down as in the latest, a five-member gang has been busted by police in Attingal with 89 gm MDMA. The car in which the gang traveled has also been taken into custody. Jithin(34), Sabu(46), Lijin(39), Riyas(36) and Shiju (47) were arrested.

According to police, these gangs were on the wanted list for so long as their business mostly circled around tourists in Varkala beach premises and among school-going minors. It was on Friday that the police received information from a fink regarding the gang carting MDMA from Bangalore using a Delhi registration Toyota Altis car. From early as 4 am on Sunday, the police started the chase after identifying the car. The gang after learning about the police vehicle tailing behind, raised speed and diverted into pocket roads often; however, the long evading run came to a screeching halt when the police vehicle covered the gang at a dead end in Ramachamvila near Chirayinkeezhu.

Jithin who is running a studio in Mananakku is the brain behind the move. He contacted another man named Mahesh from Banglore to acquire the MDMA. Riyas who was now arrested is a history-sheeter and was caught previously in 2022 for possessing 1kg of marijuana.

Under the supervision of Atingal DYSP T. Jayakumar, ISH O Tanseem Abdul Samad, S. I Manu, R, Shanawas, Hari R S and a slew of other officers worked for the operation. All the accused have been remanded.