Coimbatore police arrested a Kenyan woman and her accomplices for selling high-grade drugs to college students. The operation uncovered a complex international drug supply network.
Coimbatore: The Coimbatore police have arrested a Kenyan woman and her accomplices for selling high-grade drugs to college students. According to a press release from the Coimbatore City Police Commissioner on June 7, the police received information about methamphetamine being sold to college students and affluent youth in the city. This led to an investigation by a special task force.
On May 17, during a raid near Pannimadai, police arrested six youths—Gautham, Abhimanyu, Basil, Mohammed Arshid, Ijaz, and Perveen—with 102 grams of methamphetamine and one kilogram of marijuana. The investigation revealed that the drugs were supplied by Vinod from Coimbatore and his associates.
After a week-long search, Vinod was arrested in Ramanathapuram. Further investigation pointed to Praveen, an engineer from Dindigul, who was distributing the drugs. Praveen, who was working as a rental car driver in Bengaluru, was apprehended by Coimbatore police in Bengaluru.
Praveen's interrogation revealed that he obtained the drugs through a WhatsApp group facilitated by a co-cab driver, leading to an international network. The police ordered methamphetamine through this group, paying Rs 15,000. The mobile number linked to the transaction was traced to Iman Thalemwa from Uganda, who had completed studies in Delhi. However, his bank account and SIM card were being used by Ivy Ponughe from Kenya, a law student in Bengaluru.
The investigation found that Ivy Ponughe's bank account had transactions totaling Rs 4.5 million between December 2023 and May 2024, suspected to be for drug trafficking. Coimbatore police tracked her down in Bengaluru, arresting her at a shopping mall.
During interrogation, Ivy revealed that her boyfriend, Evian Ponunghe from Uganda, was orchestrating the drug sales from Parappana Agrahara Central Jail in Bengaluru. Evian used two mobile phones in jail to manage the drug distribution, utilizing UPI for transactions and public places for drug handoffs.
Vinod, Praveen, and Ivy Ponughe were presented in court and remanded in custody. Coimbatore police have informed the Parappana Agrahara prison authorities about Evian Ponunghe and are taking steps to arrest him.
On May 17, during a raid near Pannimadai, police arrested six youths—Gautham, Abhimanyu, Basil, Mohammed Arshid, Ijaz, and Perveen—with 102 grams of methamphetamine and one kilogram of marijuana. The investigation revealed that the drugs were supplied by Vinod from Coimbatore and his associates.
After a week-long search, Vinod was arrested in Ramanathapuram. Further investigation pointed to Praveen, an engineer from Dindigul, who was distributing the drugs. Praveen, who was working as a rental car driver in Bengaluru, was apprehended by Coimbatore police in Bengaluru.
Praveen's interrogation revealed that he obtained the drugs through a WhatsApp group facilitated by a co-cab driver, leading to an international network. The police ordered methamphetamine through this group, paying Rs 15,000. The mobile number linked to the transaction was traced to Iman Thalemwa from Uganda, who had completed studies in Delhi. However, his bank account and SIM card were being used by Ivy Ponughe from Kenya, a law student in Bengaluru.
The investigation found that Ivy Ponughe's bank account had transactions totaling Rs 4.5 million between December 2023 and May 2024, suspected to be for drug trafficking. Coimbatore police tracked her down in Bengaluru, arresting her at a shopping mall.
During interrogation, Ivy revealed that her boyfriend, Evian Ponunghe from Uganda, was orchestrating the drug sales from Parappana Agrahara Central Jail in Bengaluru. Evian used two mobile phones in jail to manage the drug distribution, utilizing UPI for transactions and public places for drug handoffs.
Vinod, Praveen, and Ivy Ponughe were presented in court and remanded in custody. Coimbatore police have informed the Parappana Agrahara prison authorities about Evian Ponunghe and are taking steps to arrest him.