How a Hyderabad constable’s hunch at a local court exposed Goa-Hyderabad drug network
The constable noticed something odd: a man attending court hearings in connection with a 2018 narcotics case appeared suspicious
By Sistla Dakshina Murthy
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Hyderabad: It began with a constable’s sharp observation at a local court in Hyderabad—what seemed like routine surveillance soon turned into a major breakthrough in Telangana’s ongoing war on drugs.
The constable noticed something odd: a man attending court hearings in connection with a 2018 narcotics case appeared suspicious. What stood out wasn’t just his past, but the possibility that he was still involved in drug trafficking—even while attending his own trial.
Supply chain across States
Based on this alert, the Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau (TGANB) swung into action. The suspect was taken into custody, and under questioning, the threads began to unravel, leading to a well-organised drug network operating out of Goa’s Parra village, with supply chains reaching all the way to Hyderabad and other metro cities.
First-hand confessions led to the arrest of Livio Joseph Almeida, a resident of Goa. He reportedly managed a clientele of 48 regular customers in Hyderabad, dealing primarily in cocaine and MDMA. His associate, Ubalanka Shankar, a city resident, had already been arrested in May.
During interrogation, Almeida revealed he sourced the drugs from peddlers in Parra, Goa—which then led the TGANB to Benjamin Fosu, another alleged trafficker. Fosu, also based in Parra, confessed that Nigerian syndicates were actively running operations from Goa’s tourist hubs, including Anjuna and Siolim.
From DJs to doctors
“This wasn’t just one local link,” said a TGANB officer involved in the probe. “Every arrest exposed another layer of the racket—right from DJs to doctors, from party suppliers to interstate transporters.”
Their findings linked back to earlier arrests too.
In 2024, a DJ named Swadeep was caught sourcing drugs from Parra to sell at parties and private events. In another case, a doctor in Hyderabad was found to be purchasing drugs from a dealer identified as Balakrishna, who hailed from Mumbai.
Meeting with clients staged as routine appointments
Balakrishna had developed a carefully disguised delivery method. He travelled to Hyderabad by private buses, passed off as an everyday commuter, and used bike taxis to avoid drawing attention. Meetings with clients—including the doctor—were staged as routine appointments.
The growing number of arrests and consistent patterns point to a deepening nexus between Goa’s drug suppliers and Hyderabad’s urban consumers, say officials.
“This is not just about individual peddlers—it’s about networks. The Goa-Hyderabad link is active and adapting, and we’re staying a step ahead,” a senior officer with the TGANB said.
Investigations are ongoing, with more arrests expected in the coming weeks as surveillance continues on known hotspots and digital communication trails.
