The Central Crime Branch (CCB) police arrested two men for allegedly selling the banned narcotic LSD in Mangaluru and seized 100 LSD strips worth about Rs 3 lakh. The arrests followed information that the accused were bringing the drug into the city and selling it here.
The arrested men are Nihal Sampras Rodrigues, aged 30, a resident of Alape in Padil, and Siddharth Shetty, aged 35, a resident of Urwa Stores in Mangaluru. Both were taken into custody during the operation.
Acting on information that the accused were procuring LSD strips from Bengaluru and selling them in Mangaluru, CCB personnel conducted an operation near the Padil railway bridge on the afternoon of November 3 and arrested the duo. The spot was chosen after the police tracked their movement.
The operation near Padil railway bridge
Police also seized three mobile phones from the accused. With the phones included, the total value of the seized items comes to about Rs 3.35 lakh. The phones are expected to help investigators trace the supply chain.
A case has been registered at Kankanady Town Police Station. The investigation is continuing into a suspected wider supply network, with police looking at how the strips reached Mangaluru from Bengaluru and who else may be involved.
What was seized
The seizure of 100 LSD strips is a significant catch for the city police. LSD is a banned narcotic, and its sale carries serious charges under the law. The case adds to a series of drug seizures in the coastal city in recent months.
The two men remain in custody as the investigation proceeds. Police have not yet said whether more arrests are expected, but the probe into the wider network is still open.
The investigation ahead
For residents of Padil and Urwa Stores, the arrests bring a police operation close to home. The CCB has said the action was based on specific information, and the case will now move through the courts.
