Mangaluru police recover 108 kg of ‘bhang chocolates’ after raids on shops

MANGALURU: In a major development, the Mangaluru police have seized a large quantity of ‘bhang chocolates’, laced with intoxicants, which were being sold to college students.

Acting on specific information, the police conducted raids on shops in Car Street and Highland. The ‘bhang chocolates’ were being smuggled from North India and were being sold secretly. They were being sold for Rs 30 apiece.

The police have seized 108 kg of the ‘bhang chocolates and arrested Bechan Sonkar (45) hailing from Uttar Pradesh and Car Street resident Manohar Shetty (49). Samples of the ‘bhang chocolates have been sent to the forensic lab for analysis.

Police commissioner Kuldeep Jain said the ‘bhang chocolates’ are laced with intoxicants and added that they are awaiting the forensic report. “We have issued notices to the accused who were selling these and once we receive the FSL report, we will register a case under the NDPS Act”, he said.

The police commissioner said the ‘bhang chocolates’ were being sold at paan-beeda stalls and that they were tipped off by some students. “We are conducting awareness campaigns among students and that is how we came to know about this. We have checked more than 100 shops and we will register criminal cases against them”, he said.

Mangaluru police commissioner Kuldeep Jain looking at the seized drugs and pistol.

Meanwhile, the Mangaluru CCB police have arrested three drug peddlers and recovered narcotics and a pistol from them. The accused are Mohammed Niyas (28) of Farangipet, Nishad (31) of Talapadi and Mohammed Razin (24) of Padil.

The three were transporting MDMA drug in Maruti Swift cars and the police have seized 180 gm of MDMA worth Rs 9 lakh, two cars, four mobile phones, cash and a pistol with live rounds, all worth Rs 27 lakh.

Police commissioner Kuldeep Jain said they would carry the pistol to threaten people not to disclose about their criminal activities. Among the arrested, Niyaz faces cases for assaulting policemen at Urva and Konaje police stations, apart from attempt to murder, dacoity and drug peddling.