Hyderabad, September 10, 2024: In a major drug bust, the Cyberabad Special Operations Team (SOT) Rajendranagar, in collaboration with local police, apprehended five drug peddlers involved in smuggling marijuana from Visakhapatnam to Uttar Pradesh and Mumbai via Hyderabad. The authorities seized 254 kg of marijuana, a country-made firearm with 11 live rounds, and a four-wheeler, with the total value of the confiscated items amounting to Rs 1.04 crore.
The arrested individuals were identified as Thakur Sachin Singh, the main coordinator from Uttar Pradesh, and Mumbai-based peddlers Mohd Nadeem, Mohd Saqlain, and Mohd Saleem, along with Prashanth Singh from Uttar Pradesh. Two others, Vinod Kumar Yadav and Ravinder Yadav, fled the scene and are currently being pursued by the police.
According to the Cyberabad police, the operation took place on September 10, when the SOT Rajendranagar team, acting on reliable information, intercepted two vehicles on the Outer Ring Road (ORR) service road near Exit No. 17. The police recovered 254 kg of dry ganja, a .32 caliber country-made pistol, and two vehicles.
Officials revealed that the smuggling operation was coordinated by Sachin Singh, who arranged the transport of the marijuana from Araku Valley to Hyderabad. The group had reached Vijayawada on September 7 and purchased the ganja in Araku Valley the following day. Their plan was to deliver 150 kg to Amit Singh in Uttar Pradesh and 100 kg to the Mumbai-based peddlers.
The group was intercepted while transferring 100 kg of ganja near Rajendranagar police station. The main culprits were arrested, but two individuals managed to flee. The police have launched a manhunt to track down the absconding suspects.
In a statement, the Cyberabad Police commended the SOT Rajendranagar team, tweeting: “Cyberabad police SOT Rajendranagar team along with @psrjnr_cyb nabbed 5 drug peddlers & seized 254 Kgs of dry Ganja, 32 Pistol (Country Made) with 11 Rounds, and a 4-wheeler, total worth Rs 1,04,65,700/-.”