The recent arrest of two Assam natives from Kakkanad by the Excise department with what peddlers and users call “China white heroin” has reaffirmed persistent concerns over the inflow of a variety of synthetic drugs into the city. While suspected ganja and MDMA make up most of the narcotics seized by the authorities, annual data from the police and the Excise show that peddlers have also found a market for other addictive substances in the city and its suburbs.
Jahidhul Islam, also known as Kabuthar Bhai, 29, and Ramzan Ali, 26, from Karimganj in Assam, who were nabbed by the Excise, were allegedly peddling suspected heroin along with MDMA and ganja, Excise sources said. The Excise alone seized 907 gm of heroin, in different forms, from Ernakulam district last year, in addition to 48.69 gm confiscated by the Kochi City police. In 2024, the city police had seized 218 gm of suspected heroin, while the Excise recovered 594 gm of the substance extracted from poppy plants.
“Heroin has the most takers among the migrant population. Most of the peddlers caught with the substance are also migrant labourers. The drug is known by different names, including heroin and brown sugar. Even what the peddlers call China white is essentially the same substance, though it differs slightly in colour,” an Excise official said.
Besides heroin, enforcement agencies have been regularly seizing substances such as ‘charas’ (hashish), methamphetamine, LSD, and a variety of psychotropic tablets.
Last year, the Excise and city police seized 189 gm of suspected hashish and 20 gm of LSD from the district. Police data for the same period shows the seizure of 424.64 gm of methamphetamine, while the Excise impounded 32.91 gm.
A senior Excise official said the figures indicate users’ willingness to experiment with various drugs, though the most preferred choices remain ganja and MDMA. “Substances like LSD are mostly used at parties. Detection of such drugs is often difficult as they come in tiny quantities that can be easily concealed or discarded. There has not been any large seizure of LSD in the district in recent times,” the official added.
Published – February 02, 2026 09:52 pm IST
