KOZHIKODE: Following the arrest of Shanawaz, a native of Puthiyapura, with pipe money worth Rs 20 lakh on Friday by Taliparamba police, an investigation has been launched into the link between hawala operators in Malabar and international drug traffickers. It is suspected that the money would be channeled to the operator here soon after the drug parcel reaches at the secret destination in Gulf.
The role of Shanawas was exposed when a group from Koduvalli approached police with a fake complaint alleging that he had siphoned off Rs 20 lakh. Later it was established that the amount was unaccounted money. Upon questioning, the culprit confessed that Malappuram was the source of the money. The cash was found in 7 bundles of Rs 2000 denomination and 12 bundles of Rs 500 denomination. Shanawaz, who had been working in Gulf for the last two years is a native of Mangad, Thrissur and had moved to Morazha, Puthiyapura a year back.
Assistance of intelligence agencies including that of National Investigation Agency (NIA) also has been sought in investigating the Kuwait linkages of Shanawas. A case was registered in Kannur against a Keralite who operate from the prison in Kuwait who was arrested in connection with drug trafficking last year. The person was arrested with drugs worth crores while the police was tracking the operations of a hawala racket. It was suspected that the hawala racket is connected with an international drug cartel that smuggle out drugs from India to Gulf countries, sources said. Shanawas is being arrested for the second time while smuggling in hawala money.
