The Manjeswaram police caught Shamsudheen, 34, at Karipur airport while he was trying to leave for the Gulf. He had been wanted for over a year in a large MDMA drug case. The case started after police found 3.5 kg of MDMA, along with cannabis, cocaine, and psychotropic pills, at Askar Ali’s house in Uppala, Kasaragod. Askar Ali, the main accused, was arrested soon after the seizure last year. Investigations revealed that Shamsudheen was the drug financier. He recently attempted to escape abroad with his family when he realized police were closing in on him. The probe began when a young man caught with drugs at Melparamba said the cannabis came from Uppala. This led to the raid at Askar Ali’s home led by DySP V.V. Manoj and SHO Santhosh Kumar, where the big drug haul was found. The case is now with the Manjeswaram police. Intelligence showed Shamsudheen was preparing to travel, so police acted quickly and arrested him at the airport. He was sent to court and remanded for 14 days. Askar Ali is out on bail after posting a ₹40 lakh bond a few months ago.