Drugs from Punjab make their way to Hyderabad, 2 caught with poppy straw

Hyderabad: For the first time, drugs from Punjab have made their way into Hyderabad. Two interstate drug peddlers were arrested on Thursday by the special operations team (SOT), Malkajgiri zone, and 900 grams of a narcotic substance, poppy straw concentrate, was seized from them.

On 31 March, the Malkajgiri zone SOT along with the Keesara police intercepted a car near Lake View Dhaba, on the Keesara-Shameerpet road under the limits of Keesara police station, and apprehended Jagtar Singh (58) and Jaimal Singh (28) – both residents of Punjab. They seized 900 grams of poppy straw concentrate, cash Rs. 1.44 lakh, a car, and other items – all worth Rs. 15 lakh – from their possession.

Another accused, Ranjit Singh, is absconding.

Jagtar Singh was running a dhaba, Sandeep Punjabi Dhaba, near the Kandlakoya toll plaza in Medchal district. He had good contacts with interstate lorry drivers who used to visit his hotel. In this way, he had befriended Ranjith Singh, a lorry driver.

Four months ago, the two men hatched a plan to supply narcotics to customers in Hyderabad and surrounding areas. Ranjith used to procure poppy straw concentrate from Punjab, transport it to Hyderabad in his lorry, and hand over the drug to Jagtar. Ranjith used to visit Hyderabad twice a month.

After collecting the contraband, Jagtar would pack it into small packets and sell it to customers. Sometimes Jagtar and Jaimal, who was an employee at the dhaba, used to go around in a car and supply the drug to customers.

Concentrate of poppy straw is a product obtained in the process of extracting alkaloids from poppy straw. Poppy straw concentrate also known as crushed poppy capsule is a major source of morphine. It is used to manufacture morphine and heroin for illegal trading. There is a ban on sale and trade of opium and poppy straw.