Kochi: The excise department suspects that MDMA smugglers are employing innovative tactics to evade detection, as indicated by a sharp decline in the quantity of MDMA seized in the district in 2024 compared to previous years. Despite a reported increase in MDMA usage among youth, the quantity of the drug seized has dramatically dropped, raising concerns about new smuggling methods.
"The sudden decline in the quantity of MDMA seized is not an indication that the drug is no longer entering the district, but we believe smugglers are using new tactics to evade checks," said an excise officer. Unlike other drugs, MDMA and cocaine are easier to smuggle, they added.
This decline contrasts with the upward trend in seizures of other illicit substances, including ganja, illicit liquor, and arrack. As of Nov 2024, the excise department had seized only 103.083 grams of MDMA, compared to 1.74 kg in 2023 and 287 grams in 2022. This sharp decrease has raised alarm, even as reports of widespread MDMA use among young people continue to rise.
The city police recently introduced drug detection kits to address the alarming rise in synthetic drug and ganja use among youths, as well as the associated violence. The kits allow for saliva swab testing, which has proven effective in identifying drug users. In less than a month, over 30 youths tested positive for MDMA, cocaine, ganja, and other drugs across the city.
Despite the decline in MDMA seizures, excise officials do not believe the flow of synthetic drugs to the district has decreased. "In neighbouring districts, the quantity of MDMA seized remains high, so it is likely that the drug is flowing into our district from these areas," explained an excise officer. "We have increased surveillance at the borders, deployed more officers for special drives, and maintained routine enforcement. We expect a rise in drug activity during the Christmas and New Year celebrations," said an officer.
While the MDMA seizure figures are down, other drug seizures have increased. In 2024, the excise department seized 516kg ganja, up from 481kg in 2023 and 221kg in 2022. Methamphetamine seizures also rose to 22.712g in 2024, compared to 18gm 2022 and eight grams in 2023. Additionally, the quantity of wash destroyed in 2024 was 12,296 litres, slightly lower than the 12,712 litres destroyed in 2023 but up from 8,196 litres in 2022.
As many as 196 litres was sei zed in 2024 compared to 634 litres in 2023 and 88 lit res in 2022.
Notably, 167 litres of spurious toddy were seized in 2024, compared to no seizures in 2023 and only one litre in 2022.