Odisha to Hyderabad ganja smuggling busted: 16 kg seized, multiple accused arrested

Hyderabad: The Enforcement and Special Task Force (STF) teams seized over 16 kilograms of ganja, arrested multiple accused, and booked several cases across Hyderabad and Rachakonda limits on Saturday.

The contraband was mainly smuggled from Odisha to Hyderabad for illegal sale. Officials also seized non-duty-paid liquor, vehicles, and mobile phones during the operations.

11 kg ganja seized at Cherlapalli, accused held

Based on specific intelligence about ganja being transported from Rayagada in Odisha, the Ranga Reddy Enforcement Team led by AES Jeevan Kiran conducted checks near Cherlapalli Railway Station early Saturday and seized 11 kg of ganja.

The accused, Pushpala Varun, a resident of Mallapur, Hyderabad, had allegedly travelled to Rayagada, procured the contraband, and returned by train to Hyderabad for distribution. He was caught while attempting to reach Mallapur after deboarding.

Officials estimated the seized ganja to be worth Rs 5.50 lakh. The accused and the consignment were handed over to the Ghatkesar Excise Police Station. Inspector Subhash Chander and SI Akhil were among the officers involved in the operation.

Odisha couple caught with 3 kg Ganja at LB Nagar

In another operation, the STF ‘B’ Team led by SI Balaraju conducted vehicle checks at LB Nagar junction, focusing on buses arriving from Odisha.

A husband-and-wife duo from Malkangiri district, identified as Suraj and Roopa, were caught carrying 3 kg of ganja packed into two parcels.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the couple was attempting to supply the drug to local peddlers in Hyderabad. They were handed over along with the seized ganja to the Saroornagar Excise Police Station.

423 grams Ganja seized from KPHB hostel room

The STF ‘D’ Team led by CI Nagaraju conducted a raid at a boys’ hostel in Addagutta under KPHB limits, based on inputs about ganja sales.

The team seized 423 grams of ganja from Medari Arun Kumar, a native of Zaheerabad, Sangareddy district.

Another suspect, Santosh, who is believed to be involved in the sale, is currently absconding. The case has been transferred to the Kukatpally Excise Police Station.

1.5 kg Ganja, auto and bike seized near Nampally

In a major street-level crackdown near Manguru Basti close to Nampally Railway Station, the STF ‘A’ Team led by Anji Reddy arrested four persons and registered cases against eight accused for ganja peddling.

The arrested were identified as Mangaraj, Saddam Khan, Kande Radha, and Londe Aarti. The absconding accused are: Mohammed Rizwan, Heena Begum, Gausia, and Kamre Rohith. Police seized 1.5 kg of ganja, three mobile phones, one auto-rickshaw, and one motorcycle.

All seized material and accused were handed over to the Nampally Excise Police Station.

38 bottles of smuggled duty-free liquor seized near Airport

The STF ‘A’ Team also seized 38 bottles of non-duty-paid liquor smuggled from Goa and Delhi via air routes. Two separate cases were registered and the liquor bottles were handed over to the Meerpet Excise Police Station. The seizure was made during inspections near the Shamshabad Airport area.

Senior officials congratulate Enforcement Teams

Enforcement Director Shahnawaz Qasim, Ranga Reddy Assistant Commissioner R. Kishan, STF ‘B’ Team Leader Pradeep Rao, and STF ‘D’ Team Leader Tirupathi Yadav congratulated the field teams for their coordinated operations and successful crackdown on narcotics trafficking.