Bengaluru, 20 Jan

Police in Karnataka have uncovered two major drug trafficking operations, leading to the seizure of large quantities of narcotics and the arrest of three accused under the NDPS Act.

The Anti-Narcotics Wing of Bengaluru City Police’s Central Crime Branch busted amajor MDMA peddling racket.

A 45-year-old foreign national, Ernest Onyekachi Ugah, was arrested in Munekolalu under Marathahalli police limits.

He was operating from a rented house and was found with 300 ecstasy pills and 2.5kg of MDMA, valued at around Rs 5.15 crore internationally.

Ugah has two prior drug cases and has resumed illegal activities after his recent release from jail. 

In a separate operation, in Dakshina Kannada, police arrested two men during a vehicle inspection and seized over 106 kg of cannabis worth about Rs 53.03 lakh.

Acting on a tip-off, officers intercepted a car and a goods vehicle and recovered 73 bundles containing cannabis leaves, flowers and seeds packed in plastic covers.

The accused, Rafiq P, 37 and Abdul Sadiq, 37, from Charmadi village in Belthangady taluk, reportedly told investigators the contraband was meant for sale in Kerala and Mangaluru. Two vehicles and mobile phones were seized.