Yemen national, Palestinian aide held with MDMA worth Rs 25 lakh in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: Police arrested a foreign national drug peddler and his associate during a joint operation conducted by the Rajendranagar Police and the Hyderabad Narcotic Enforcement Wing (H-NEW).

The police seized 150 grams of MDMA, a knife and four mobile phones, collectively valued at around Rs 25 lakh, officials said on Tuesday.

The accused was arrested on March 3, based on credible information within the Rajendranagar police station limits.

Foreign national identified as key peddler

The main accused was identified as Al-Aqar Abdurabu Mohammed Abdurabu (37), a native of Yemen, currently residing in Tolichowki, Hyderabad. Police said he had been living in India for several years after initially arriving in 2008 on a tourist visa.

Investigations revealed that he later entered India again on a student visa, enrolling in courses in Pune and Hyderabad but discontinuing his studies midway. He eventually settled in Hyderabad and began associating with drug suppliers.

Police records show that Abdurabu has a history of multiple NDPS cases registered by the Ameerpet Excise Station and other agencies between 2019 and 2023. In at least two recent cases, he was absconding and facing pending warrants.

Associate from Palestine arrested

The second accused was identified as Hasan WA Hashem (28), a Palestinian national from Gaza currently residing in Bengaluru. Police said he came to India in 2016 on a student visa and pursued a BCA course in Karnataka.

In 2022, he was arrested by Yelahanka New Town Police in Bengaluru after 300 grams of MDMA were seized from his possession. After spending about seven months in jail, he was released on bail.

Police said Hasan later worked as a hospital admission agent for foreign nationals and attempted to run a hotel business, which shut down due to losses. Recently, he was working as a content creator for a Ludo gaming platform.

Investigators said he later reconnected with Abdurabu through Facebook and allegedly assisted him in drug trafficking activities, including providing shelter and allowing the use of his bank accounts for financial transactions.

Links with an international drug network

Police said Abdurabu came in contact with a Delhi-based drug supplier named Chidi through another foreign national earlier arrested in a drug case. Chidi had also been arrested by the H-NEW team earlier this year in a separate NDPS case.

Investigators suspect the accused were part of a larger interstate drug supply network operating between Hyderabad and Bengaluru.

Modus Operandi

According to police, Abdurabu initially began as a drug consumer before turning into a peddler to fund a lavish lifestyle.

He allegedly procured MDMA and other narcotics from an absconding Nigerian supplier by placing orders through WhatsApp and transferring money online. The drugs were then sold to consumers in Hyderabad and Bengaluru at higher prices.

Police said the accused used different methods to distribute narcotics, including:

- Dead-drop deliveries at pre-decided locations

- Direct supply to known customers

- Transporting drugs through private travel buses

Hasan reportedly assisted in collecting drugs from suppliers and distributing them to buyers.

A case has been registered as Crime No. 236/2026 under Sections 8(c) read with 22(c) and 29 of the NDPS Act, 1985, and Section 14 of the Foreigners Act.

Police advisory on drug abuse

Hyderabad City Police warned that students, IT professionals, doctors and other private employees are increasingly being targeted by drug peddlers.

Officials said many well-educated individuals are gradually drawn into drug consumption and trafficking, which has serious social and family consequences.

Citizens with information on drug abuse or trafficking have been urged to contact the H-NEW team at 8712661601 or call 100 or 112.