Mangaluru police bust biggest-ever drug cartel in state, arrest two South African nationals
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Mangaluru (PTI): Mangaluru Police seized over 37 kg of MDMA valued at Rs 75 crore, the biggest-ever drug haul in the state, a police official said on Sunday.
Two South African nationals were arrested in Bengaluru in connection with this case, the official said.
Addressing a press conference, Mangaluru Police Commissioner Anupam Agarwal stated that the operation stemmed from an earlier arrest six months ago. In September, police apprehended one Haider Ali in Pumpwell, Mangaluru, and confiscated 15 grams of MDMA from him. Subsequent investigations led authorities to a Nigerian national named Peter, who was arrested in Bengaluru with MDMA worth Rs 6 crore.
Further probes pointed to an international drug network with links to traffickers using air routes between Delhi and Bengaluru, he said.
Acting on intelligence, the Mangaluru Central Crime Branch (CCB) police arrested two South African nationals -- Bamba Fant (31) and Abigail Adonis (30)-- upon their arrival in Bengaluru on March 14. The suspects were taken into custody in Neeladri Nagar, Electronic City in Bengaluru, the senior police officer said.
Authorities discovered MDMA concealed in their trolley bags, alongside four mobile phones, passports, and Rs 18,000 in cash.
Police sources indicate that the arrested individuals were allegedly supplying drugs to Nigerian peddlers operating in Bengaluru and other regions. Additionally, they are suspected of using forged passports and visas for travel.
The investigation is ongoing to trace the larger network behind the illicit drug trade, officials said.
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260 Gram Panchayat seats to go to by-polls on May 11 in Karnataka
Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Election Commission has announced by-elections for 260 vacant seats across 222 Gram Panchayats in the state. The polling will be held on May 11.
According to the official schedule, the Deputy Commissioner will issue the election notification on April 22, and the last day to file nominations is on April 28. The scrutiny of nominations will be held on April 29, and the last day to withdraw nominations is on May 2.
Polling will be conducted from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM on May 11. In case of any need for re-polling, it will be held on May 13 during the same hours. The counting of votes is scheduled for May 14, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, at the designated taluk centers, and results will be declared following the counting.
