WhatsApp Code ‘Bhai Baccha Agaya Bhai': 14 held buying Marijuana in Gachibowli

Hyderabad: In a major crackdown on drug consumption in the city’s IT corridor, the Elite Action Group for Drug Law Enforcement (EAGLE) apprehended fourteen individuals, including software professionals, a student, and other private sector employees, for attempting to buy marijuana during a decoy operation in Gachibowli on Saturday.

Buyers from various professions

Those arrested were identified as Naveen (31, online trader), Ayush (22, student), Nikhil (29, engineer), Sindura (26, architect), Hasan (34, property manager), Kranti (28, IT employee), Akhil (28, dental technician), Shiva (32, business relationship manager), Sandesh (34, freelance ad professional), Sai Raj (31, real estate sales executive), Akhil (26, travel agency owner), Swamy (27, driver), Thushar (24, IT employee), and Arpith (24, IT employee).

Operation based on intelligence inputs

According to Ch Rupesh, Superintendent of Police, EAGLE officers in plain clothes carried out the operation based on intelligence inputs about a Maharashtra-based repeat offender named Sandeep, who supplies marijuana to customers in Hyderabad’s IT hub.

Dealer’s Modus Operandi

Sandeep reportedly arrives with five kilograms of marijuana, split into 100 packets of 50 grams each, selling them for Rs 3,000 per packet.

“He maintains a list of over 100 regular customers with contact details and uses coded WhatsApp messages like ‘bhai baccha a gaya bhai’ to alert buyers,” explained SP Rupesh.

Caught in the Act

All fourteen consumers were caught red-handed and tested positive for cannabis on the spot using urine drug test kits. “One of the accused came along with his wife and four-year-old son.

While the woman and child were let off, the man tested positive. In another case, both husband and wife attempted to buy marijuana. Though the woman tried to bluff her way out, both tested positive,” said the SP.

Further investigation underway

Digital evidence, including WhatsApp logs and contact lists from seized phones, is being analysed to identify additional buyers linked to Sandeep.

The SP added that the 86 remaining regular customers on the dealer’s list have been advised to seek rehabilitation before enforcement action is initiated against them.