Kerala Police have arrested Dhanesh S Nair, 31, from Alappuzha — a recipient of the Krishi Bhavan 'best young farmer' award in 2022 — in Ernakulam, recovering 8 grams of MDMA and 803 grams of hashish oil, according to Hindustan Times reporting carried by Inshorts and a Mid-Day report.

Source: Hindustan Times via Inshorts

Police allege Nair smuggled synthetic drugs from Karnataka into Kerala concealed inside banana bunches and supplied them through a distribution network spread across multiple districts. His arrest followed the questioning of two alleged associates, from whom police said suspected MDMA was seized earlier.

Investigators are probing the network further, including suspected links with Nigerian nationals in Bengaluru allegedly involved in drug manufacturing and supply, the reports said. The allegations are yet to be proved in court.

Kerala Agriculture Minister T Siddique reacted to the arrest by saying the government would examine whether the young farmer award given to Nair should be withdrawn, and that the award selection process would be reviewed.