Dog Trainer in Kerala Taught Dogs to Attack Police While Running Cannabis Operation
A dog trainer named Robin from the Indian state of Kerala taught fighting dog breeds to attack police officers and other people wearing khaki-colored clothing. The resourceful Indian was selling cannabis under the guise of running an animal shelter.
Animal Shelter Used as a Cover for Cannabis Sales
According to law enforcement, Robin rented a house in the city of Kottayam and opened an animal shelter. People would leave their pets with him for a fee of 1,000 rupees per day (about $14), and he took good care of the animals. However, police received a tip from an informant that Robin was involved in suspicious activities. The informant turned out to be right—Robin was selling marijuana while pretending to run a legitimate business.
How Robin Learned to Train Dogs
Authorities discovered that a retired border guard had taught Robin how to handle dogs so he could work as a dog trainer. However, the retired officer kicked Robin out after he started asking strange questions, such as how to make dogs attack people in khaki clothing. Left without a mentor, Robin decided to sell cannabis to make money.
Dogs Helped the Dealer Escape
Police obtained a warrant and raided the animal shelter Robin had opened. However, Robin quickly released 13 dogs on the officers and managed to escape. The police were not injured, but it took them a long time to calm the aggressive animals, giving the cannabis dealer enough time to get away. More than 17 kilograms (about 37 pounds) of marijuana were found in Robin’s house.
Police Statement and Ongoing Investigation
Kottayam Police Superintendent Karthik commented on the raid: “We did not expect there to be so many dogs, and for them to be so aggressive. That made the search operation difficult. Fortunately, none of the officers were hurt. First, we need to catch the suspect, and then find out who else was involved.”
Because of the large amount of cannabis seized, police suspect Robin had accomplices. A special investigative team has been formed to catch the cannabis dealer and identify his partners. In India, possession of large quantities of marijuana (from 1 to 20 kilograms) is punishable by 10 to 20 years in prison and a fine of 1 to 2 million rupees (about $12,000 to $24,000). Robin now faces a lengthy prison sentence if caught.