Thiruvananthapuram: Seizure of around 551g of synthetic drugs in the state capital in just five months (Jan to May) underscores a deeply concerning trend. During this period, excise officers seized 344g of MDMA, including 177.3g in Jan and 76g in May.Officers also confiscated around 11g of methamphetamine and nearly 196g of psychotropic tablets during the period. While ganja remains the most seized narcotic by quantity, officials say synthetic drugs sourced mainly from Bengaluru and Tamil Nadu are increasingly being detected across the district.According to officers, MDMA has emerged as the preferred drug among traffickers due to its ease of transportation and concealment. “Unlike ganja, MDMA does not have a strong odour and can be carried in very small quantities. A few grams can fetch significant returns, making it attractive to traffickers. Bengaluru continues to be one of the major source points for MDMA reaching Kerala, while consignments also arrive through Tamil Nadu,” said a senior excise officer.They said enforcement efforts are being hampered by inadequate infrastructure at border check posts, where a significant share of narcotics entering Kerala from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu is intercepted.“Several check posts continue to function from converted cargo containers with limited facilities. In some places, there are no proper toilets, resting rooms or adequate lighting. Officers often have to arrange necessities on their own. At the same time, traffickers are using sophisticated methods and constantly changing their routes,” an excise officer said.Legal experts, meanwhile, pointed to challenges in ensuring successful prosecution under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.“NDPS Act contains several mandatory safeguards relating to search, seizure and arrest. An accused has the right to seek the presence of a gazetted officer or magistrate during a search. Details regarding the quantity seized, chemical analysis and reporting procedures must be meticulously documented. Courts have repeatedly emphasised strict compliance with these safeguards. Any procedural lapse can weaken prosecution’s case, and ultimately benefit the accused,” said Rahul V I, a criminal lawyer.Rahul said the prosecution must establish an unbroken chain of custody from the time narcotics are seized until they are produced before the court.“The seizure, sampling, sealing, storage and transportation of contraband must be properly documented. Investigators should be able to show who handled the material at every stage and ensure that samples sent for chemical analysis are properly sealed and accounted for. If there are defects in seizure procedures, sampling, documentation or the chain of custody, the defence can challenge the integrity of the evidence,” he said.He also pointed to the growing role of social media in trafficking networks, which have become increasingly organised and reliant on digital platforms and covert communication channels to evade detection.“Traffickers increasingly use social media platforms to identify potential buyers and carriers. Young people are often targeted through online interactions before being drawn deeper into the network. While liquor advertisements and promotion are specifically restricted under the Abkari Act, similar issues relating to the glorification of drug use on social media continue to pose challenges for enforcement agencies,” Rahul added.
