Cyberabad Police seize 910 kg ganja worth Rs 2.8 cr, nab 8 inter-state peddlers

HYDERABAD: In a major breakthrough, the Cyberabad Police have apprehended eight inter-state ganja peddlers in three separate cases and seized a total of 910 kg dry ganja worth Rs 2.8 crore. A lorry used for its smuggling from Odisha to Maharashtra via Telangana was also seized.

Disclosing the details of the case to media here on Monday, Cyberabad Police Commissioner Stephen Ravindra said that, acting on a tipoff, police teams nabbed the eight persons under the limits of Jeedimetla, Chandanagar and Shamshabad police station limits falling under the Cyberabad Police Commissionerate. In the first case, two interstate drug peddlers were apprehended for transporting 758 kgs of ganja from Odisha to Maharashtra in a lorry in the Jeedimetla police station limits.

The two accused were identified as Jeevan Singh, a native of Hisar district, Haryana, and Golu Ankith Singh of Koriya, Chattisgarh. Two more accused Chandrasekhar (supplier), a native of Jeypore, Odisha, and Parvez from Hyderabad who are also part of the gang, are absconding, the CP said.

In another case, five persons were arrested by the Shamshabad police when they were smuggling 144 kgs of ganja that was concealed in bags of bangles and using private transportation. The five accused were identified as Pradip Fakira Sirasat, Anil Shyamrao Salve, Bhahu Sahib Piraji Salve, Kamal Shivaji Kande and Shantha Bhai Pandi, all belonging to Maharashtra. Two more persons Balu (receiver) from Maharashtra and Munna (supplier) from Odisha are absconding.

The Cyberabad CP further said that, in another case, one inter-state drug peddler was apprehended by Chandanagar police while he was trying to sell the banned item and seized eight kg of dry ganja. The accused was identified as Shivaji Kashinath Chowhan, a native of Bidar, Karnataka. Kantia, a native of Narayankhed in Medak district, a supplier of ganja to Shivaji, is absconding.

On verification, it is revealed that the accused were selling the contraband item for around Rs 30,000 per kg to customers after purchasing the banned substance for Rs 5,500 per kg. Separate cases were also registered against the accused under the provisions of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and further investigation is underway, the CP informed.