Kozhikode (Kerala) | Police probing the sensational MDMA case in Vadakara on Tuesday arrested another woman teacher in connection with the alleged drug abuse and trafficking, officials said.

The accused, identified as Neeshma, is a trainer at the Perambra Block Resource Centre, where she conducts training programmes for teachers.

She organises awareness and orientation sessions for children.

With her arrest, three highly educated women teachers have now been found to be allegedly linked to the case.

Earlier, police had arrested two special educators attached to the Perambra BRC-Keerthana, a physical education instructor, and Kavya, who taught children with autism.

The BRC functions under Samagra Shiksha Kerala.

Neeshma was arrested by the Special Investigation Team based on information gathered during the interrogation of Keerthana and Kavya, police said.

The SIT was constituted by the Vadakara Rural Superintendent of Police after investigators received information suggesting the involvement of more people in the case.

"Our investigation has established that they are users of synthetic drugs," the police officer heading the probe told reporters.

He said investigators would also examine their bank accounts, sources of income and other financial transactions.

"We will conduct a detailed probe into their bank accounts, as well as other important aspects, including their sources of income," the officer said.

He added that the accused worked within the jurisdiction of the Perambra police station.

"I am not aware whether any complaints of this nature were received there. The financial transactions linked to the alleged drug trade are also under investigation," he said.

Police sources alleged that the accused maintained links with drug traffickers through Instagram and carried out MDMA transactions worth lakhs of rupees through bank accounts without meeting customers directly.

According to the investigation, the accused teachers allegedly consumed the drugs before taking classes, conducting training sessions and interacting with children.

Investigators said the probe into activities at the Perambra BRC had therefore taken a serious turn.

Police said the next phase of the investigation would focus on tracing the flow of funds into and out of the accused's bank accounts.

Investigators are also examining whether more teachers were part of the alleged racket. They suspect the money trail could lead to a larger drug trafficking network.

Police have reportedly found that substantial sums, rather than small honorariums, were being credited to the accused's accounts.

According to the police, drug traffickers allegedly sent QR codes to customers seeking narcotic substances. After the payments were made, the money was transferred to the accused's bank accounts.

Investigators suspect the funds were routed through the three accounts to avoid attracting the attention of banks by depositing large amounts into a single account.

The teachers came under the scanner during Operation Toofan, an anti-drug drive launched by the state government.

Police said the investigation would also focus on establishing whether the accused had links to a larger drug trafficking network. All three women will be questioned in detail.

Investigators are also probing the source from which they allegedly procured MDMA and other narcotic substances.

Neeshma's arrest came a day after officials of the Perambra BRC said they had no prior knowledge of the alleged involvement of two special educators in drug trafficking, maintaining there had been nothing to indicate such activities while they worked at the institution.

The alleged involvement of the three educators came to light after the arrest of a man in possession of MDMA.

During the investigation, police found that the suspect had been sending messages to a Gulf-based phone number and would receive a QR code to make payments.

Police said that after the payment was confirmed, the suppliers sent the buyer a photograph of the location where the narcotics had been concealed for collection.

Investigators found that the QR code was linked to Keerthana's bank account.

Following her arrest, Keerthana allegedly disclosed Kavya's involvement in the operation.