Shamshabad: 5 inter-state drug peddlers busted; ganja worth Rs 3 cr seized

Hyderabad: A gang of inter-state drug peddlers from Odisha and Karnataka were busted and 803 kg of dry ganja along with other contraband worth almost Rs 3 crores were seized by Shamshabad police.

The operation was organised by the Cyberabad SOT Balanagar team, along with Shamshabad police and the TGANB (Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau).

Case details

On Saturday, acting on specific information, the sleuths of the Special Operations Team (SOT) Balanagar team along with Shamshabad Police apprehended five interstate drug peddlers for transporting ganja from Odisha to Maharashtra via Telangana.

The accused have been identified as Somanatha Khara (34), Harade Sanjeev Vittal Reddy (35), Jaga Suna, Sanjeev Kumar Hollappa Okare (48) and Sunil Khosla (28). One of the main suppliers Ramu, a resident of Araku in AP, is absconding.

Another missing accused is Suresh Maruthi Patil from Mumbai, who is a receiver and main peddler.

Along with the 803 kg of ganja, the police also seized a DCM container with chemical drums, one four-wheeler and seven mobile phones, all worth Rs 2,94,75,000 (Rs 35,000 per kg). The worth of the ganja alone was Rs 2,81,05,000.

Modus operandi

The accused Somanatha Khara is a resident of Odisha. He was working under Ramu (the main supplier). Somanatha Khara used to deliver the contraband ganja to buyers by engaging drivers. He introduced Sanjeev Vittal Reddy to Sanjeev Kumar, both residents of Bidar, Karnataka.

They are DCM container drivers and Sanjeeva Reddy owns a DCM container. They used to transport various goods to states. Somanatha Khara made a deal with Harade Sanjeev to transport dry ganja in their DCM container from Odisha to Maharashtra on a commission basis. Somanatha Khara instructed Sanjeev to inform him, whenever he comes to Vizag and its nearby areas to deliver goods.

On July 30, he got an order to transport food items from Patancheru to Vizag and he with Sanjeev Kumar Holappa transported the same to Vizag and delivered the food items at D-Mart, Gajuwaka, Vizag. In the meantime, he ordered Sanjeev to transport the ganja and deliver the same to Suresh Patil (receiver) in Patancheru in his DCM container. Afterwards, Suresh Patil would transport the ganja in another vehicle to Maharashtra.

On August 1, Sanjeeva loaded chemical solvents from Alaveera Animal Health Limited JNPC SEZ Parwada of Vizag. On the same day Somanatha Khara along with his friends Jaga Suna, and Sunil Khosla hired a rented car and came to the Gotlam area of Vizianagaram and delivered 26 dry ganja gunny bags to Sanjeeva Reddy, who loaded the dry ganja bags in the DCM container and camouflaged the ganja under solvents drums. From there Somanatha Khara and his friends piloted the DCM container in their car for safe travel.

The drivers would remove the number plates of the vehicles before approaching toll gates to avoid CC cameras. They used to pass toll gates with the help of fast tags of vehicles. After passing every toll gate they would fix numbers to the vehicles.

They were arrested near Pedda Golconda ORR Junction by the SOT Cyberabad, Balanagar team and Shamshabad Police.

Public advisory

Citizens are hereby requested to inform the police about any information related to dry ganja suppliers through Dial 100 or through Cyberabad NDPS Enforcement Cell 7901105423 or Cyberabad Whatsapp number 9490617444. Their identity will be kept confidential.