On Saturday, February 7, 2026, Kerala police seized more than 10,500 gelatin sticks and detonators from a lorry carrying onions at Chemmad in Malappuram district. The lorry was parked near a brick manufacturing unit when the police arrived following a tip-off. The driver fled, and a woman who owns the lorry was taken into custody. Police found 245 boxes containing detonators, gelatin sticks, and wires hidden among onion bags. Officials said the explosives came from outside Kerala and are suspected to be for illegal mining, as the woman arrested is known to run a quarry. Police are investigating the source of the explosives. Recently, on February 4, police seized 18,000 gelatin sticks and 4,200 detonators hidden in watermelons at Palakkad. A case will be registered soon.