Pramesh S Jain
In a major crackdown on Narcotics,the Ashoknagar police have arrested two persons and seized MDMA (Ecstasy) crystals worth Rs.3.5 crore,which were allegedly being stored near a burial ground and sold during New Year celebrations.
The accused have been identified as Tariq Iqbal (33),a MCom graduate and working as business analyst for a private company and Mohammed Abrar (29),a PU drop out a resident of Kadugodi Segehalli.
Seemant Kumar Singh, Bengaluru City Police Commissioner addressing a press conference,said that a total of 3.2 kg of MDMA crystals,along with a scooter and mobile phones,were seized from the accused. Further investigation is underway.
Acting on specific intelligence that Narcotics were being sold to youths during New Year festivities,Ashoknagar police laid a trap near the Hindu burial ground on Hosur Road and arrested Tariq Iqbal.
During interrogation,he revealed that MDMA crystals had been procured from a Nigerian national at lower prices and sold at higher rates to make huge profits.
Based on the information,police recovered 2.48 kg of MDMAcrystals hidden near a tomb inside the burial ground .
Abrar was later arrested from Byappanahalli’s Malleshpalya area.A subsequent search of his residence in Kadugodi Segehalli led to the seizure of an additional 720 grams of MDMA crystals.
Police stated that the accused had carefully concealed the drugs near burial grounds to avoid detection and were actively involved in supplying narcotics to partygoers,particularly during festive occasions and new year .
Both the accused have been booked under relevant sections of the NDPS Act,and further investigation is ongoing to identify other members of the drug network.
