NIA raids Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kasaragod in Kerala explosives probe
Synopsis
The NIA has fanned out across three northern Kerala districts in a single day — searching a hollow-brick warehouse, private residences, and a granite quarry — all linked to a truck intercepted in February with explosives hidden under sacks of onions. The coordinated sweep signals the agency believes a wider network, not just a rogue transporter, is at the centre of this case.
Key Takeaways
The NIA conducted searches across Malappuram, Kozhikode, and Kasaragod on 30 May 2025 .
The probe stems from a 7 February interception of a truck carrying explosives concealed among onion sacks at Chemmad, Tirurangadi .
Searches in Malappuram targeted a hollow-brick warehouse in Tirurangadi and a residence in Wandoor .
In Kasaragod , the residence and quarry premises of a former granite quarry operator in Kadumeni were searched.
Documents, records, and electronic devices have been seized; investigators are probing procurement, storage, and transport compliance.
NIA has not yet released an official statement on the findings.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday, 30 May conducted coordinated searches across three northern Kerala districts — Malappuram, Kozhikode, and Kasaragod — as part of its expanding probe into the alleged illegal transportation of a large cache of explosives in a truck earlier this year. No official statement on the findings has been released yet.
The February Seizure That Triggered the Probe
The investigation traces back to 7 February, when officials intercepted a truck at Chemmad in Tirurangadi, Malappuram district, and found a significant quantity of explosives concealed among sacks of onions. The vehicle was reportedly transporting materials ostensibly destined for a hollow-brick manufacturing unit. At the time of seizure, it was claimed the explosives were intended for use in quarrying operations — a common end-use in Kerala's granite belt — but the manner of concealment raised suspicion and prompted further scrutiny, eventually drawing in the NIA.
What the Searches Covered
In Malappuram, NIA teams searched two locations: a hollow-brick warehouse in Tirurangadi and a residence in Wandoor. Investigators are examining whether the explosives were procured, stored, and transported in compliance with applicable regulations, or whether any violations occurred at each stage.
In Kasaragod, searches were conducted at the residence and quarry premises of a man who had previously operated a granite quarry in Kadumeni, under the jurisdiction of the Chittarikkal police station. Investigators reportedly believe there could be links between the Malappuram explosives seizure and quarry-related activities in this area.
Searches were also reported from locations in Kozhikode district, though details of that operation were not immediately available.
What Investigators Are Looking For
Documents, financial records, and electronic devices are expected to come under scrutiny as the agency attempts to trace the source, intended destination, and end-use of the seized explosives. The coordinated, multi-district nature of the operation signals that the investigation has expanded well beyond the initial truck interception and is now focused on mapping a broader network allegedly involved in the procurement, movement, and utilisation of explosive materials.
What Comes Next
NIA officials had not released a formal statement on the findings as of Saturday evening. Further details are expected to emerge once investigators complete the examination of materials seized during the raids. The probe will likely determine whether the explosives were part of a legitimate quarrying supply chain or were being diverted for other purposes.
Point of View
Within months, drawn in the NIA — an agency reserved for cases with national security dimensions. The quarry-explosives nexus in Kerala is not new; regulatory gaps in explosive licensing for mining operations have been flagged before. What investigators must now establish is whether this was a compliance failure by a legitimate quarry operator or evidence of a diversion network — a distinction that will determine whether this remains a regulatory case or becomes a security one. The absence of an official NIA statement after the raids is itself noteworthy: it suggests the agency is not yet ready to show its hand.
NationPress
22 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the NIA investigating the Kerala explosives case?
The NIA took up the case following the interception of a truck carrying a large cache of explosives allegedly concealed among onion sacks at Chemmad, Tirurangadi, Malappuram, on 7 February. The circumstances of the concealment raised concerns beyond a routine regulatory violation, prompting the national agency to probe the source, movement, and intended use of the explosives.
Which locations were searched during the NIA raids on 30 May?
NIA teams searched a hollow-brick warehouse in Tirurangadi and a residence in Wandoor in Malappuram district, as well as the residence and quarry premises of a former granite quarry operator in Kadumeni, Kasaragod. Searches were also reported in Kozhikode district, though details were not immediately available.
What were the explosives allegedly meant for?
At the time of the February seizure, it was claimed the explosives were intended for use in quarrying operations — a common and legal end-use in Kerala. However, the manner in which they were concealed in the truck prompted investigators to question whether that explanation was accurate.
What evidence is the NIA looking for?
Investigators are examining documents, financial records, and electronic devices seized during the raids to trace the source, intended destination, and end-use of the explosives. They are also determining whether there were any violations in procurement, storage, or transportation under applicable explosives regulations.
Has the NIA made any arrests in the Kerala explosives case?
No arrests have been publicly confirmed in connection with the 30 May searches. NIA officials had not released an official statement on the findings as of Saturday evening, and further details are expected after the examination of seized materials is completed.
