V.P. Neeshma, 30, who hails from Vala Kuttoth, Kozhikode district is a special educator at the autism centre under the Perambra BRC. Her arrest follows those of physical education teacher Keerthana, who taught at Ramallur GLP School and Vrindavan AUP School on Chembra Road, and special educator K. Kavya, attached to the autism centre functioning at Cheruvalor GLP School.

Neeshma has been dismissed from service, while Keerthana and Kavya had already been dismissed by the General Education Department.

The probe into the alleged drug network involving the teachers began with the recent arrest of a man found in possession of MDMA in Kozhikode. During interrogation, he reportedly told police that narcotics could be ordered through a contact number based in the Gulf. Buyers had to send a message to that number, after which a QR code was shared for payment.

Once payment was confirmed, dealers would send the buyer a photo of the location where the drugs had been concealed for collection. Police said the financial trail led them to the QR code linked to Keerthana’s bank account, ultimately leading investigators to the three teachers.

According to the SIT, it will examine whether more teachers were involved in the alleged narcotics distribution network. Investigating officers are also probing the source of the narcotic substances, the financial trail, and whether the accused were part of a larger network.

The arrest of three teachers has raised serious concerns about the infiltration of the drug mafia into the education sector. Police confirmed that all three teachers were regular users of synthetic drugs and said the probe would focus on tracing the MDMA supplied to them. Earlier, the probe team revealed that the teachers allegedly used an Instagram account to canvas customers for the narcotics trade.

Officials found that the teachers allegedly received payments through online transactions into their bank accounts for each order and arranged the delivery of narcotics through other individuals.

The probe revealed financial transactions worth lakhs through their accounts.

Although these teachers earned only around 12,000 per month as contract staff at the BRC, investigators found that they maintained a lifestyle far more luxurious than their known income could support.

Police suspect that a friend in Mangaluru introduced them to the narcotics network. As part of the probe, police are also examining details of several trips made by Kavya and Keerthana to Bengaluru.