KOCHI: A youth was arrested by the Excise for possession of 1.6 kilograms of ganja. The arrested person has been identified as Kasargod Bedadka native Mohammed Moideen (21). He was arrested from a lodge in Kaloor. The Excise Department has registered a case naming Moideen as the first accused and Malappuram Thavanoor native Mohammed Ashiq (21) as the second accused. The second accused is on the run.

The ganja was seized during an inspection conducted at the lodge by Ernakulam Narcotics Special Squad Inspector KP Pramod and party following a tip-off received by Assistant Excise Commissioner Jimmy Joseph.

According to the Excise officers, the accused belong to a gang that brings ganja from Kasaragod and sells it to students and workers in Kaloor, Edappally and Palarivattom areas. They had been doing business for the last six months by renting rooms in Kochi.