Nobody involved in drug racket will be spared: Chennithala

Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala on Friday asserted that nobody found involved in the narcotics racket in the state -- reportedly involving the high and mighty also -- will be spared.

"We have declared a war against drugs and it does not matter who are engaging in this... we will act tough," Chennithala told reporters here.

"No leniency will be shown to anyone. Our sole aim is to ensure that drugs are driven out and violators -- irrespective of which section or class of society they come from -- are taken to task," he said.

Kochi, known as the commercial capital of Kerala, has of late earned the dubious distinction of becoming the nerve centre of the drug mafia in the state, as different "recreation" drugs are finding their way from Goa.

Police rounded up a Russian disc jockey and a few others on Saturday during a DJ party at a plush hotel at Kochi.

Police said they had got test reports to confirm that the substances seized from the arrested were hashish powder and ketamine, but the accused were let off on bail the very next day since they were each found in possession of very small quantities of drugs.

Police have, based on statements of the accused, found that drug abuse was high among those from the younger generation in the film industry as well as DJs.

Early this year, budding actor Shine Tom Chacko and four young women were rounded up by police after a midnight swoop in their apartment. Chacko and the women later got bail.