Kochi : A Thrissur native was arrested by Kochi city police for allegedly trying to force a woman to consume MDMA at a luxury hotel within the Kadavanthra police station limits in Kochi.
Police recovered 0.12g of MDMA, over Rs 2 lakh in cash, a laptop, an iPad, and a mobile phone from him. The woman, Asthani, 21, was travelling on the Hazrat Nizamuddin Express.
The accused had checked into a room around noon on the previous day and later called the woman to the room at night, according to the police. Police said he would be produced before a court with a remand report. Kochi City Police Commissioner R Nishanthini, IPS, said strict action would continue as part of Operation Toofan. A day earlier, Palakkad natives were arrested from a lodge near Ernakulam South with 35g of MDMA, officials said.
The accused, Shihabudeen, was arrested by a Dansaf team. Acting on the information, a Dansaf team led by Kochi city narcotics cell assistant commissioner A Ananthalal, along with the Kadavanthra police, searched the room and recovered the drug. He was subsequently taken to the Kadavanthra police station, where a case was registered under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and provisions relating to offences against women. The drugs were allegedly concealed inside a bag.