Rachakonda police bust inter-state drug peddling gang; arrest smuggler, recover Ganja worth Rs 40L

Acting on specific information, sleuths of Special Operations Team (SOT) Bhongir and Malkajgiri Zones along with Saroornagar Police apprehended a smuggler.

He has been identified as Metri Raj Kumar of Karnataka. Cops seized 320 kilos of Ganja, a Bolero and a mobile phone. The value of Ganja is said to be Rs 40 lakh in the market.

Cops also registered a case against the main accused identified as Ranga Lal from Bidar. Police said he is on the run.

Police said Metri Raj Kumar migrated to Hyderabad four years ago. He has been staying at Ambedkar Nagar Colony in Saroornagar along with his family.

He has been plying Bolero goods carrier to transport fruits to Kothapet market. Ranga Lal, who is absconding, was into Ganja smuggling for some time. Since they are from the same area, they became friends.

On the night of July 18, Raj Kumar left Hyderabad and reached Rajahmundry. When Raj Kumar was en route to Rajahmundry, Ranga asked him to meet at Kothapet fruit market. He asked him to transport Ganja from Gokavaram area of East Godavari district to Bidar and offered to share profits.

After unloading pomegranate at Rajahmundry, Raj Kumar and Ranga Lal met at a local petrol bunk in Gokavaram village and loaded 152 packets of Ganja (each weighing 2 to 2.5 kgs) in the goods carrier.

Raj Kumar left the Gokavaram area and came to Hyderabad in order to transport the Ganja to Bidar. On receipt of credible information, teams of SOT Bhongir and Malkajgiri zones apprehended Raj Kumar near Kothapet fruit market. They also recovered 320 kilos of Ganja. He was later handed over to Saroornagar police station for further investigations.