Seizure Worth Rs.1 Crore: Authorities Confiscate 360 kg of Marijuana, a Vehicle, and Four Mobile Phones
Hyderabad : In a significant operation, the Rachakonda Special Operations Team (SOT) in collaboration with Abdullapurmet police apprehended three individuals on Thursday for their involvement in an inter-state drug smuggling racket. The accused were caught smuggling a substantial amount of marijuana from Rajahmundry to Uttar Pradesh, passing through Hyderabad. The authorities confiscated 360 kg of marijuana, a vehicle, and four mobile phones, with an estimated total value of Rs. 1 crore.
The arrested individuals were identified as Vikas Tyagi (29), a plumber, Abrar (30), a cab driver, and Mohd. Amiruddin (32), a tiles worker. All three suspects are friends and residents of Meerut in Uttar Pradesh.
According to the police, the trio had established contact with an unidentified drug peddler in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, who enticed them with a lucrative offer for smuggling drugs from Rajahmundry to Uttar Pradesh.
“The suspects accepted the proposal and, following the supplier’s instructions, traveled to Rajahmundry in a car to procure marijuana. They then delivered the contraband to the receiver in Meerut. After each successful consignment, the accused collected their share of the proceeds from the drug peddler,” explained G. Sudheer Babu, Police Commissioner, Rachakonda.
In their latest attempt, the trio acquired 360 kg of marijuana in Rajahmundry and was en route to Uttar Pradesh via Hyderabad in a vehicle. To evade police scrutiny, the suspects strategically affixed the fast tag of another vehicle to the crime vehicle.
“One of the suspects would alight before the toll plaza to assess the surroundings. Only after ensuring the vehicle received clearance would he rejoin the others in the car,” stated a police official.
Acting on a tip-off, the police intercepted the vehicle near the Outer Ring Road in Abdullapurmet, successfully apprehending the suspects. The seized contraband was also recovered during the operation.
Investigations revealed that the gang had previously executed four successful marijuana smuggling operations from Rajahmundry to Meerut. The arrested individuals, along with the confiscated materials, were handed over to the Abdullapurmet police for further legal proceedings.
