Interstate drug peddler held at Miyapur bus stop; Rs 6 lakh worth of MDMA seized

Hyderabad: An interstate drug peddler was caught from the Miyapur bus stop with 60 grams of MDMA worth Rs 6 lakh. The Cyberabad Police, in collaboration with the Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau (TGANB), participated in the operation that led to the drug bust.

Acting on credible intelligence, the officials intercepted the accused at Miyapur bus stop before she could deliver the contraband. The accused was involved in an interstate drug network, working under a foreign supplier.

The accused has been identified as Shatabdi Manna (24), a resident of Sola Devanahalli in Bengaluru and a native of Jamsherpur village in Jharkhand. The absconding supplier was identified as Warren Kokarango from Africa.

Modus operandi

Shatabdi Manna, a graduate from Bengaluru, met Warren Kokarango, an African drug supplier in 2024. Due to financial difficulties, she agreed to store and distribute MDMA on his behalf.

She received 100-200 grams of MDMA per consignment and had supplied drugs over 10 times in Bengaluru. On February 19, while waiting at Miyapur bus stop to deliver the MDMA, she was intercepted and arrested. A case has been registered and further investigation is on.

Telangana’s war on drugs

The Telangana Police said that the department is working relentlessly to make Telangana a drug-free state by:

- Educating people about drug abuse and its consequences.

- Developing intelligence networks to track and dismantle drug supply chains.

- Nabbing interstate and international offenders dealing in commercial quantities of synthetic drugs.

- In recent months, TGANB has intensified its crackdown on MDMA traffickers, conducting multiple operations and seized large amounts of contraband.

Notable recent MDMA seizures across the State are:

- On February 11, two Rajasthan-based peddlers were arrested in Cyberabad with 40 grams of MDMA.

- On December 25, 2024, three local peddlers were arrested in Film Nagar here with 17.38 grams of MDMA

- In October 2024, a Rajasthan-based gang was busted in Hyderabad, leading to the seizure of 350 grams of MDMA.

Public advisory

Synthetic drugs like MDMA are destroying lives. Youth, students and professionals are falling into this deadly trap. TGANB urged the students and youth to stay away from drugs and avoid becoming victims. They asked the parents and guardians to monitor children’s activities and be aware of behavioural changes.

Citizens can report any drug-related activity anonymously to the TGANB helpline: 8712671111/1908.