Mangaluru, July 4
Acting on a complaint filed by a parent regarding his son’s drug addiction, the Karnataka Police have busted a gang of drug peddlers in Mangaluru district, officials said on Friday.
The Cyber Crime, Economic Offences and Narcotics (CEN) Police in Mangaluru, acting on the complaint, arrested a five-member gang involved in peddling drugs, targeting students and employees in the coastal region.
The arrested individuals have been identified as 21-year-old Tushar, 20-year-old Dhanvi Shetty, 19-year-old Sagar Karkera, 23-year-old Vikas Thapa, and 24-year-old Vignesh Kamat. All the accused are residents of Mangaluru. The police have seized narcotic substances worth Rs 5.20 lakh from them.
The police raided the gang's hideout and apprehended the accused while they were preparing to package and sell the narcotics.
According to police, the accused used to prepare small packets of narcotic substances and sell each for Rs 1,000. Following a preliminary inquiry and the recording of statements from the accused, the investigation is now focusing on the source of the drugs and how they were procured.
Mangaluru Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy stated that two parents approached the police and reported that their children had become addicted to drugs. Based on their complaints, a probe was launched, leading to the arrest of five drug peddlers.