The Thiruvananthapuram Additional District and Sessions Court sentenced three men to 28 years of rigorous imprisonment on Friday, 25 October 2024 for smuggling and selling hashish oil.[1] The convicts were Rosari Ronaldo, 45, of Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu, and Thankamani natives Binoy Thomas, 50, and T N Gopi, 74.[2] Judge K P Anil Kumar convicted them of conspiracy and drug smuggling under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.[2] Each offence carried 14 years, but the terms run concurrently, so the three will serve 14 years.[2] The court fined each of them Rs 2 lakh, with one more year in prison if the fine is not paid.[2]

Excise officers arrested the three on 1 September 2018 at the parking area of a garment store in Thiruvananthapuram while they were trying to sell hashish oil to Maldivians.[1] The three were carrying 6.36 kg of hashish oil when excise officers arrested them.[2] A team led by then Thiruvananthapuram Excise Circle Inspector T. Anikumar caught them while they were transferring the contraband.[1] The hashish oil was valued at Rs 6 crore and was to be smuggled to the Maldives.[2] The oil was sourced from Ullas, an Idukki native settled in Andhra Pradesh who owns ganja plantations there, according to the New Indian Express.[2]

Rosari had worked as an agent at Thoothukudi port, where he was involved in smuggling hashish oil to the Maldives and Sri Lanka.[2] He shifted his operation to Thiruvananthapuram after one of his consignments was caught and central agencies and Tamil Nadu police intensified their search for him.[2] Former Assistant Excise Commissioner (Enforcement) A.R. Zulfikar submitted the charge sheet within 180 days of the incident.[1] The prosecution examined 13 witnesses and presented 48 material objects and 91 exhibits.[1] The court accepted the prosecution’s submission to confiscate the vehicles used in the crime and Rs 6.75 lakh in cash linked to the smuggling operation.[1] It also directed that the seized hashish oil be preserved because the investigation was ongoing.[1] The first two accused had been in judicial custody for six years, while the third was granted temporary bail after five years.[1]