Mangaluru: Three arrested, MDMA worth Rs 1.58 crore seized in CCB drug bust

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Oct 9, 2026: The Mangaluru Central Crime Branch (CCB) police have arrested three men for allegedly conspiring to transport and sell the banned drug MDMA through courier services. Police seized 1,796.96 grams of MDMA valued at Rs 1.58 crore.

The arrested have been identified as Abdul Hafeel (25), a resident of Mangalpady in Kasaragod district; Jiyawul Haq (30), a resident of Kasaba Bengre in Kuloor, Mangaluru; and Altaf (28), originally from Jalligudde in Bajal and currently residing in Pandeshwar, Mangaluru.

Acting on specific information that the accused were selling MDMA to the public in Mangaluru, CCB police conducted an operation near DMart at Kumpala in Ullal taluk at around 10 pm on October 8 and arrested the three men.

Police seized 1,796.96 grams of MDMA worth Rs 1,58,34,000, three mobile phones, a Maruti Suzuki Swift car and an autorickshaw allegedly used for transporting the drugs, a cardboard courier box and a water purifier. The total value of the seized items is estimated at Rs 1,63,84,000.

A case has been registered at Ullal police station, and further investigation is underway. The accused will be questioned and produced before the court.

Police said a previous case related to drug consumption had been registered against Abdul Hafeel at Ullal police station. Jiyawul Haq had reportedly served a three-year prison sentence in a drug trafficking case in Ras Al Khaimah, Dubai, before returning to India. Altaf also has a previous drug consumption case registered against him at Pandeshwar police station.

According to the police, the accused procured MDMA from Amritsar in Punjab. They allegedly concealed the drug inside the water storage compartment of a water purifier before sending it to Mangaluru through courier services. They had allegedly planned to distribute and sell the drug in various parts of Mangaluru and Kerala.

Police said they succeeded in detecting and disrupting the alleged drug trafficking network at an early stage.