Hooch tragedy prime accused arrested with 3.6 kg ganja

KOCHI: The Ernakulam North police on Tuesday arrested a 56-year old woman with 3.6kg of ganja. The arrested, Mareena aka Jeena of Fort Kochi, is the prime accused in the Mattancherry hooch tragedy that killed 14 people in 1995.
The police said that Mareena was nabbed during an investigation into the arrest of a Pachalam native with ganja near Ernakulam North railway over-bridge recently.The youth had confessed to the police that the contraband was sourced from Mareena who is currently living at Kangarappady.
Based on his confession, the police raided the house of Mareena and seized 3.6kg of ganja she had stored for selling to customers. The police said that Mareena had been selling ganja to other peddlers by procuring huge quantity from wholesale dealers.
The police said that Mareena had a case against her at Hill Palace station after arrested with 12 kg of ganja. She is also accused in several drug peddling cases registered at Thoppumpady and Mattanchery police station limits. The accused was produced before magistrate.