KOZHIKODE/ THIRUVALLA: As drug abuse and violence continue to rise daily, a young man who swallowed MDMA upon seeing the police succumbed to death hours after being taken into custody. The deceased was identified as Iyyadan Shanid (28), a native of Ambayathode in Thamarassery.

Meanwhile, a man was arrested for selling MDMA by hiding it on his 10-year-old son's body. The arrested person is Muhammad Shameer (39), a native of Deepa Junction in Thiruvalla, Pathanamthitta.

Swallowed MDMA upon seeing police
Shanid swallowed two packets of MDMA on Friday morning. Initially taken to Thamarassery Taluk Hospital, he was later shifted to Kozhikode Medical College, where he passed away at 11:20 AM yesterday. Shanid was already a suspect in multiple drug-related cases. He swallowed the packets near Parammal Mosque in Ambayathode upon spotting the police. Reports suggest he had been using drugs for the past two years and was also involved in selling them.

A CT scan and endoscopy revealed plastic packets containing a white crystal-like substance in his stomach. The cause of death was the MDMA dissolving in his bloodstream after leaking from the compressed plastic packets. Although Excise officials searched Shanid’s house, they did not find any drugs there. Thamarassery DySP P.K. Sushir is leading the investigation. Shanid's body is currently at the Medical College Mortuary. Father: Saleem, mother: Saheera, siblings: Mashid and Shamil.

Introvert
Shanid was unmarried and had previously worked in the Gulf. He had been working as a tipper truck driver for the past eight years. He was known to be quiet and reserved, rarely engaging in conversations or friendships. He had been staying at his grandmother Fathima’s house for some time and usually returned home only late at night.

Drugs taped to 10-year-old son’s body
Shameer had been running his MDMA business under the guise of dropping his fifth-grade son at school. He would wrap MDMA in plastic, seal it with cello tape, and attach it to the boy’s body before traveling by car or bike. According to police, Shameer is a drug addict, and his wife had left him. He admitted to selling MDMA to school and college students. He even used students as agents for distribution. He was arrested on Friday night at his father’s house in Chumathra. Police seized 3.78 grams of MDMA from the house. DySP S. Ashad stated that further investigations are ongoing as there is suspicion of more hidden stock.