NCB arrests 7 in Kerala cocaine network, seizes 33 gm worth ₹16.55 lakh
Synopsis
A cocaine supply chain stretching from Bengaluru to Kerala has been broken open by the NCB — with an unusual cast: UAE-deported convicts who reportedly reconnected in prison abroad, a party-scene DJ, a Bengaluru IT professional, and two overstaying foreign nationals. Seven arrests and ₹16.55 lakh worth of cocaine later, investigators say the wider network is still being mapped.
Key Takeaways
The NCB Cochin Zonal Unit arrested seven accused between 10–13 September 2026 in a cocaine trafficking operation spanning Kerala and Bengaluru .
A total of 33.1 grams of cocaine valued at ₹16.55 lakh was seized across multiple intercepts.
Three of the accused — Sidharth Damor , Hamdan Ahammed , and Aflah P — had previously been convicted and deported from the UAE for drug offences.
Two foreign nationals, a Nigerian and a Zimbabwean , both allegedly overstaying on expired visas, were arrested in Bengaluru on 12 and 13 September respectively.
Arun Rajkumar , a Bengaluru-based IT professional, has been identified as a key supply facilitator in the network.
The NCB says further investigation is ongoing to dismantle remaining links in the trafficking chain.
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) dismantled an interstate cocaine trafficking network operating between Bengaluru and Kerala, arresting seven accused — including three persons previously deported from the UAE and two foreign nationals — and seizing 33.1 grams of cocaine valued at ₹16.55 lakh, according to an official statement issued on Thursday, 17 September 2026.
How the Operation Unfolded
The NCB Cochin Zonal Unit initiated the operation on 10 September after receiving credible intelligence about individuals who had been deported from the UAE in connection with drug-related offences abroad. Agents had been monitoring their activities and their alleged links to a cross-state supply chain.
The first arrests came at Faroke Railway Station, Kozhikode, where the NCB intercepted Gurpreet Singh of Kapurthala, Punjab; Hamdan Ahammed of Beypore (N), Kozhikode; and Aflah P of Arakkinar, Kozhikode. The three were found in possession of 8.12 grams of cocaine. Preliminary interrogation indicated the contraband had been procured from Bengaluru.
The Network's Key Nodes
Interrogation of the initial detainees pointed to Sidharth Damor, who was intercepted the same day while travelling from Thiruvananthapuram to Kozhikode. According to the NCB, Damor is a DJ associated with Kerala's party scene and also owns a resort in Ooty, Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu.
Damor's examination in turn led investigators to Arun Rajkumar, described by the NCB as a key facilitator in the network. Rajkumar, a Tamilian based in Bengaluru and employed in the IT sector, was identified as sourcing cocaine from foreign nationals and redistributing it to peddlers and consumers.
Foreign Nationals Apprehended in Bengaluru
Acting on information from Damor and Rajkumar, the NCB tracked down two foreign nationals in Bengaluru. Chizoba Helen Anthony, also known as Sonia, a Nigerian national who entered India on a Medical Attendant Visa and had been allegedly overstaying for 10 years, was apprehended on 12 September. She was found carrying 16 grams of cocaine.
Mufukare Vittalis Tadiswanashe, a Zimbabwean national who entered on a Student Visa and had allegedly been overstaying for two years, was arrested on 13 September with 8.98 grams of cocaine.
UAE Deportation Angle
Investigators found that Sidharth Damor, Hamdan Ahammed, and Aflah P had each been convicted and imprisoned in the UAE for drug-related offences before being deported to India. According to the NCB, it was during their shared period of incarceration that Aflah, Gurpreet, and Sidharth built connections and subsequently attempted to establish a stronger trafficking network back home. Notably, this underscores a broader concern about deported convicts re-entering domestic drug supply chains shortly after return.
Investigation Continues
The NCB has stated that further trails are being pursued to identify and dismantle remaining links in the network. The bureau said it aims to completely destroy the trafficking chain, suggesting more arrests may follow.
Point of View
One for a decade, also raises uncomfortable questions about visa overstay enforcement. The NCB operation was well-executed, but the structural vulnerabilities it exposed are unlikely to be fixed by arrests alone.
NationPress
17 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the NCB seize in the Kerala cocaine operation?
The NCB seized 33.1 grams of cocaine valued at ₹16.55 lakh across multiple intercepts in Kozhikode and Bengaluru between 10 and 13 September 2026. Seven people were arrested in connection with the operation.
Who are the foreign nationals arrested in the NCB cocaine case?
Chizoba Helen Anthony (alias Sonia), a Nigerian national on an expired Medical Attendant Visa with a decade-long alleged overstay, and Mufukare Vittalis Tadiswanashe , a Zimbabwean national on an expired Student Visa with an alleged two-year overstay, were arrested in Bengaluru on 12 and 13 September respectively.
What is the UAE connection in the NCB Kerala cocaine case?
Three of the seven accused — Sidharth Damor , Hamdan Ahammed , and Aflah P — had previously been convicted and imprisoned in the UAE for drug-related offences and were subsequently deported to India. The NCB says they used their shared period of incarceration to build ties that formed the basis of the current trafficking network.
Who is Sidharth Damor and what is his role in the case?
Sidharth Damor is described by the NCB as a DJ associated with Kerala's party scene who also owns a resort in Ooty, Tamil Nadu. He was intercepted on 10 September while travelling from Thiruvananthapuram to Kozhikode, and his interrogation led investigators to key supply facilitator Arun Rajkumar in Bengaluru.
Is the NCB investigation in the Kerala cocaine case still ongoing?
Yes. The NCB has stated that further trails are being pursued to identify and dismantle the remaining links in the network. The bureau has indicated that more arrests are possible as it works to completely destroy the trafficking chain.
