Dancer Arrested in Kochi After Two Years on the Run Over Drug Seizure

Police in Kochi have arrested a 39-year-old dancer who had been on the run for nearly two years in connection with a major drug case.

Arrest Details

Lijo Joy, a resident of Kodikuthumala in Aluva, was taken into custody by the Nedumbassery police. Investigators stated he was wanted over the seizure of 316 grams of suspected MDMA, two LSD stamps, and 420 grams of ganja from a car at Athani on June 27, 2024. The contraband was allegedly being transported from Bengaluru.

Earlier Arrests and Role

Three other men—38-year-old Azad from Aluva, 28-year-old Harikrishnan from Malappuram, and 32-year-old Ragesh from Thrissur—were arrested earlier in the investigation. According to the police, Lijo coordinated the supply of drugs to various locations and routed financial transactions through Ragesh, who was previously tracked down and caught in Himachal Pradesh. Following his recent arrest, Lijo was produced before a court and remanded in judicial custody.

Context

Drug enforcement agencies frequently target interstate supply chains that funnel illegal substances like MDMA and ganja from major metropolitan hubs like Bengaluru into smaller towns. The long-term pursuit of suspects in such cases often involves tracking financial networks and coordinated multi-state police efforts.