Sandalwood drugs case: Bhatkal man arrested after year-long manhunt

The Central Crime Branch’s (CCB) police arrested a 35-year-old man, of Bhatkal origin for his alleged involvement in the Sandalwood drugs scandal.

Sharif Hassan Masuri, having aliases Massi and Myashi was apprehended by the CCB’s Anti Narcotics Wing on August 30 following a year-long manhunt. The details of his arrest were disclosed on Wednesday and the accused has been remanded to 14-day police custody.

The CCB, in its statement, informed that Masuri who is one of the main drug dealers linked to the Sandalwood drugs case had gone into hiding near Delhi after switching off his phone and was using an obscure number to evade detection.

According to the police, Masuri used to host parties where his clientele — actors and other celebrities would consume the drugs procured by him and is even suspected of supplying narcotics to African expats in the city.

Recently Masuri was granted bail in one of the cases registered against him at Cottonpet police station. The police are presently investigating him based on information available in the Banaswadi case.

The CCB is also trying to bust his network of drug dealers.