: The City police have formed a special investigation team of the Shadow Police to investigate allegations that a few bakeries, star hotels and hair salons in the city were hubs of drug and flesh trade.
The police had got information about drug hotspots in the city during investigations in a case of assault of a medical shop owner who had refused to sell Nitrazepam tablets to a youngster in Peroorkada.
The youth, Sachin, 20, who was arrested by the Shadow Police in connection with the attack, had reportedly given details about other drug dealing centres.
These included several medical stores that illegally sold Nitrazepam, Diazepam and Alprazolam tablets, all which required a medical practitioner’s prescription. The clientele included young men and women and even school students.
Apart from these, the premises of a few major bakeries at Kowdiar and Bakery Junction and a hair salon were also suspected hubs for drug and flesh trade, the police said.
The recent arrest of two youths, Jojo, 20, and Jikku, 20, in connection with an assault case, reportedly under the influence of drugs at Vanchiyoor, during the ‘Clean Campus Safe Campus’ drive had led the police to Sachin. The police said that during questioning, the youth had indicated that DJ parties at some prominent star hotels in the city were sale spots for costly drugs, brought in from Goa by seasoned dealers.
The information prompted the police to set up a special investigation team led by an assistant commissioner, a senior police officer pointed out.
The Shadow Police, along with the Narcotics Cell, have been carrying out raids and inspections on several shops and also on persons suspected to be drug peddlers in the city over the last few days.
