Mangaluru : City crime branch (CCB) police arrested three persons on charges of illegally possessing ganja and recovered a motorcycle and three cellphones from their possession. A team of CCB officials headed by PI Sunil Naik arrested Ramiz Raja, 24, of Naringana, Mohammaed Haneef, 31, of Natekal, and Iqbal Harris, 24, of Belma and recovered 10-kgs of ganja while the accused were at a lodge in the city, making plans to sell it clandestinely to students.

T R Suresh, city police commissioner , said the trio were nabbed in an operation supervised by Valentine D’Souza, ACP (CCB) based on a tip-off that the accused had illegally ferried ganja into city from Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh for sale to customers especially students in DK district and the city. “They were in the process of making smaller packets of the ganja for easy sale among potential buyers,” he said. Value of the drug and other property seized is Rs 3 lakh.

Among the accused, Ramiz is wanted in a case of vandalism at a hotel in Thoudugoli Cross under Konaje PS in 2016 as well an earlier offence of selling ganja. He was enlarged on bail in this second offence. Mohammad Hanief too has a case under NDPS Act in Mangaluru rural PS in 2016 and Iqbal is wanted in five cases including abducting and sexually assaulting a medical student registered in Konaje PS and assault in Mulki PS limits.

Suresh said police have credible information about the persons who intended to buy ganja from the accused and suitable action will also be initiated against them. A case has been registered under NDPS Act in Mangaluru North Police station and further investigation is on.