Lodges under scanner as police step up anti-narcotics drive

Anti-narcotics squads and local police have placed several lodges and isolated rental facilities under surveillance in Kozhikode district following reports that drug peddlers were using them to store smuggled synthetic narcotics. The police said many such facilities were not maintaining mandatory visitor registers or properly verifying the identity of guests, as required under the law.

Officers involved in recent inspections said several cases had been detected in which drug peddlers and users were caught with large quantities of contraband from these locations. In many of the recent cases, migrant carriers were found to be using such facilities as temporary shelters, police said.

“The caretakers of lodges and rented facilities are legally bound to maintain authentic visitor registers for future reference. They are also required to verify identity documents and report suspicious persons to the police,” an officer attached to the anti-narcotics squad said, adding that caretakers were often found to be unaware of these responsibilities.

The officer said seizure of narcotics from such premises could also expose the owners to legal action. “In some cases, premises were even used for substance abuse. Flash inspections are now being conducted across the State to curb such practices,” he said.

According to officers of the District Anti-Narcotics Special Action Force, a flash inspection at a suspected facility near Govindapuram last month led to the seizure of 710 grams of MDMA. A 36-year-old man, suspected to be a key link between inter-State drug peddlers, was also arrested in connection with the case.

In another incident a few days later, police arrested four youths from a rented facility at Nadakkavu, where they were allegedly packing narcotics for local distribution. The police sources said the gang primarily targeted school and college students in Kozhikode city.

Apart from low-cost rental facilities, police have also intensified surveillance of rural party hubs, including homestays and resorts, where weekend gatherings involving guests from other States are reportedly held. Officers said they were maintaining regular contact with operators of such facilities to monitor suspected activity and guests.