3 held while transporting Rs 1.25 crores worth poppy straw from Rajasthan to Hyderabad

Hyderabad: An interstate drug peddling racket was busted by SOT, LB Nagar team and Meerpet police for transporting and selling of contraband drug (poppy straw) from Neemuch, Madhya Pradesh to Hyderabad. Three persons were arrested.

As much as 53.5 kg of poppy straw worth Rs 1.25 crores was seized in the operation.

The arrested have been identified as Mangilal (21), Mangi Lal (25) and Bhira Ram (25). They are natives of Rajasthan. The other accused in the case are Pintu, Shanker Lal and Sharvan.

Case details

The accused Mangilal and Bhira Ram are natives of Rajasthan. They were earning their livelihood by doing steel railing work and agriculture. Due to financial problems, they decided to earn easy money by selling narcotic drugs. They came in contact with one drug peddler Pintu. They started purchasing poppy straw drugs at a cheaper rate from Pintu and transporting the same to Hyderabad through public transportation vehicles and selling it to needy customers in and around Hyderabad City for huge prices.

Mangilal and two others were arrested by SOT, LB Nagar team along with Hayathnagar police in 2023 for transporting and selling heroin from Rajasthan to Hyderabad.

On December 15, based on a tip-off, the SOT LB Nagar team along with Meerpet police apprehended the accused persons near Ashok Reddy Colony, Nadergul, under the limits of Meerpet police station and seized 53.5 kg of Poppy Straw, three mobile phones and other incriminating material from their possession. The main source and receiver are not available for examination. Efforts are afoot to identify and apprehend the receivers, consumers and also the absconding accused.

A case has been registered and further investigation is on.

How poppy straw is made into a narcotic

Poppy straw is the husk left after the opium is extracted from the pods. This poppy straw also contains a very small morphine content and if used in sufficient quantities, poppy straw can have a high toxic effect. People often consume poppy straw in various ways, such as mixing it with water, lemon, or tea. This method is typically used to extract the alkaloids for a mild analgesic or sedative effect. Consuming large amounts (overdosing) of poppy straw can be extremely dangerous. The potent alkaloids can lead to respiratory depression, coma or even death.

Poppy straw is one of the narcotic drugs under the NDPS Act, of 1985. Possession, sale, use, etc. of poppy straw is regulated by the State Governments under the State NDPS Rules. Farmers sell the poppy straw to these licensed purchases. Anyone possessing, selling, purchasing or using poppy straw without a valid license or authorisation or in violation of any conditions of the license is liable to prosecution under the NDPS Act.