Hyderabad: EAGLE cracks Rs 5 Cr ganja racket; 935 kg seized in major interstate bust

Hyderabad: The Elite Action Group for Drug Law Enforcement (EAGLE) has seized a massive consignment of 935.611 kilograms of ganja valued at Rs 5 crore. The operation, carried out by the restructured anti-narcotics wing, marks the largest drug haul in Telangana so far this year.

The bust also dismantled a highly organized interstate smuggling syndicate operating from Odisha to Maharashtra via Andhra Pradesh, further highlighting the effectiveness of the newly intensified and intelligence-driven EAGLE unit, which replaced the Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau (TGANB).

Acting on specific intelligence, personnel from the Regional Narcotic Control Centre (RNCC) in Khammam and the narcotics wing of the Rachakonda police deployed surveillance teams at Batasingaram fruit market junction on the Vijayawada National Highway.

The smugglers were expected to pass through the location between 2 pm and 4 pm on Saturday. At 3:05 pm, a target goods vehicle, escorted by an SUV, was intercepted by the waiting team.

Upon inspection, authorities discovered 35 HDPE bags hidden beneath empty plastic fruit trays. These bags contained 455 packets of ganja, each wrapped in brown tape. The total weight of the seized contraband was confirmed to be 935.611 kilograms.

The arrested individuals were identified as Pawar Kumar Badu, a repeat NDPS offender from Maharashtra; Samadhan Kantilal Bhise; and Vinayak Baba Saheb Pawar.

The trio had travelled from Maharashtra to Rajahmundry on July 23 in a rented SUV. There, they met their Odisha-based supplier, Sachin Gangaram Chouhan, who loaded the ganja into the goods vehicle.

The consignment was then transported under the cover of an SUV acting as an escort to avoid police detection. The syndicate adopted sophisticated tactics, such as concealing ganja under fruit trays and operating on a credit-based supply model.

Preliminary investigation reveals that the gang had an extensive distribution setup, with financing and logistical support provided by the main accused. The network was designed to facilitate large-scale supply and distribution across multiple states. The smugglers maintained digital and manual records, indicating a structured business model behind the illicit trade.

Authorities have invoked Section 27A of the NDPS Act, which pertains to financing and harbouring offenders, based on their role in procurement, transportation, and distribution of narcotic substances.

In addition to the ganja, police also seized a goods vehicle, the SUV used for escort, and several mobile phones, each equipped with dual SIM cards used for communication and coordination. The search is ongoing for the absconding supplier, Sachin Chouhan, the EAGLE officials added.