Hyderabad: Task Force officials working with Lalaguda Police arrested four people – a drug supplier, a peddler and two consumers – in Secunderabad and seized four kilogram of ganja worth Rs 2 lakh from their possession.
The accused have been identified as Nageshwar Rao Kello, 25, Hardeep Singh, 47, Priyanth Vijay, 34 and Gandham Goverdhan, 37.
According to the police, Rao, who is a labourer and native of Odisha, got involved in the drug business due to insufficient income. He would supply drugs to various districts in Odisha on the instructions of Saiba Golori, another Odisha native.
On the day of the incident, Rao had taken a bus to Secunderabad and was asked to wait near Mettuguda Railway Hospital. There, he was approached by Singh, Vijay and Goverdhan, who bought ganja from him.
A case has been registered and further investigation is underway.
Excise officials foil smuggling attempt, seize 100 kg ganja in Khammam
In another incident, Excise Department officials in Khammam on Tuesday, February 24, busted an attempt to smuggle ganja in the state by intercepting a car laden with the contraband in Khammam.
A total of 101.2 kg of ganja and 2.7 kg of hashish oil were seized in the operation. The car had been transporting ganja from Kalimela in Odisha to Hyderabad.
The car, carrying a fake number plate from Haryana, was intercepted by excise officials during checks at the IMFL Depot.
Seven family members and delivery boy held in Afzalgunj with 23 kg ganja
A total of eight individuals, including seven interstate peddlers and one local peddler, were arrested near Ravindra Bar and Restaurant, by Charminar task Force and Afzalgunj police on Wednesday, February 25 and 23 kg of ganja worth Rs 16 lakh was seized from their possession.
The interstate peddlers have been identified as Kishor Takri, 38, Panmati Takri, 30, Lakshmi Takri, 30, Balaram Khilo, 26 and three juveniles, all residents of Odisha.
The local peddler has been identified as Shankar Singh, 32, a resident of Dhoolpet who works as an delivey agent.
According to the police, Kishor Takri would procure ganja from suppliers named Indra Madi and Sanjay at Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 per kg and supply it in bulk to peddlers in Hyderabad.
Previously, two cases had been booked against him in 2024 and 2025 at Motu police station, Malkangiri, Odisha.
At one point, he got acquainted with Shankar Singh and started supplying the ganja in bulk at the rate of Rs 7,000. Afterwards, Shankar would supply the same to another peddler in Dhoolpet named Vinay.
Recently, Shankar Singh had asked Kishore Takri to deliver the 23 kg ganja to Hyderabad and paid an amount of Rs 1,40,000 through PhonePe.
Accordingly, Kishore arrived in Hyderabad with his relatives and on Wednesday waited at the bus stop near Ravindra Bar and Restaurant. After some time, Shankar came on his bike and met them at there.
While they were having their exchange, the police, acting on a tip-off, apprehended all the accused.
The three other suppliers, Indra Madi, Sanjay and Vinay are currently absconding.
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