A 37-year-old alleged key operator in an inter-State MDMA trafficking network has been arrested from Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh. He was wanted in connection with the seizure of nearly 500 g of the synthetic drug from an ambulance at Vaniyambpara here on May 26.
The accused, Riyas, alias Kallu Riyas, a native of Chovvallurppadi, near Guruvayur, was traced and arrested by a Thrissur City DANSAF team led by City Police Commissioner Nakul Rajendra Deshmukh..
The police said Riyas was allegedly the mastermind behind the consignment seized from the ambulance. Two persons travelling in the vehicle had been arrested.
According to the police, interrogation of the two accused led investigators to an inter-State drug network allegedly operating from Bengaluru and supplying MDMA to different parts of Kerala.
Riyas, who was allegedly coordinating the movement of drugs from Bengaluru, fled the city after learning that the police had intercepted the ambulance consignment.
He reportedly avoided using mobile phones and moved between different States to evade detection. Investigators eventually received information that he was staying in Greater Noida.
A team from Thrissur travelled to Uttar Pradesh and kept the suspect under surveillance before arresting him.
The team included Peechi police station inspector V. Ameer Ali, Thrissur City DANSAF ASI Jeevan T.V., CPO Vipin Das K.B., Peechi police senior CPO S. Lalu, and CPO Nivya K.B.
Riyas was produced before a court in Uttar Pradesh following his arrest.
The police operation became particularly challenging because Riyas had chosen a large residential complex in Greater Noida as his hideout.
The apartment complex reportedly has around 2,600 flats and nearly 150 security personnel, making it difficult for outsiders, including police teams, to enter without attracting attention.
Riyas was allegedly staying in a flat that commanded a monthly rent of around ₹50,000.
Rather than attempting to enter the apartment directly, investigators watched his movements and waited for an opportunity when he stepped outside. The surveillance eventually paid off, leading to his arrest, according to a police press release.
The police said Riyas had allegedly been functioning as a major link in the supply of MDMA from Bengaluru to Kerala.
Investigators suspect that he was involved in coordinating the movement of drugs to different destinations, from Kasaragod in northern Kerala to Thiruvananthapuram in the south.
The investigation into the ambulance seizure had continued for months before investigators identified his alleged role in the network.
The police said the network was suspected of moving drugs worth several crores of rupees through different routes into Kerala.
Riyas had previously been booked in an MDMA case registered at Thrissur West police station in 2024, in which around 300 g of MDMA was allegedly found concealed inside a car.
Published – August 27, 2026 08:43 pm IST
