Kannur central jail inmate caught with Drugs, Investigation launched

Drugs were seized from an inmate at the central jail here during a routine inspection earlier this week, prison officials said on Thursday, raising fresh concerns over the flow of narcotics into high-security facilities.

According to officials, two bottles of hashish oil were recovered from a prisoner identified as Manoj during a surprise check conducted inside the prison on Tuesday. The contraband was immediately seized and handed over to the police, following which a formal complaint was lodged by jail authorities.

Police said a case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and the Kerala Prisons and Correctional Services (Management) Act . An investigation has been launched to ascertain how the prohibited substance was smuggled into the jail and whether there was any external or internal assistance involved.

The incident comes amid mounting concerns over Kerala’s growing drug problem. The state has witnessed a steady rise in narcotics-related cases over the past few years, with law enforcement agencies flagging increased availability of cannabis, synthetic drugs and hashish oil, particularly among young users. Officials have repeatedly warned that Kerala’s long coastline, busy ports and extensive road networks have made it vulnerable to drug trafficking.

In response, law enforcement agencies have intensified anti-narcotics operations across the state. Police and excise departments have stepped up surveillance, conducted regular raids and launched special drives targeting peddlers and distribution networks. Awareness campaigns in schools and colleges, community-based monitoring groups, and coordinated intelligence sharing between agencies have also been rolled out to curb both supply and demand.

Authorities said the latest jail seizure highlights the evolving challenges faced by enforcement agencies and underlines the need for stricter monitoring within correctional facilities as part of the broader fight against drug abuse in the state.