Inter-state ganja peddling racket busted in Hyderabad

The Special Operation Teams (SOT) of Maheshwaram zone comprising inspectors Jangaiah and Ravi Kumar, along with the Meerpet police, intercepted the vehicle and searched the lorry. Ganja peddlers were arrested after they were found to be hiding 250 kg of ganja concealed underneath coconut coir.

Hyderabad:The Rachakonda police busted an inter-state racket that was supplying ganja to customers in Hyderabad, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. The police arrested two persons, who were working on the orders of the mastermind, who was supplying cannabis to Sri Lanka. The lorry and three phones, along with 250 kg of ganja worth Rs 75 lakhs, were seized from their possession, they were hiding the ganja in a lorry, which was loaded with coconut coir.

Malailiswamy alias Siva from the Theni district of Tamil Nadu came to Chandrayanagutta in Hyderabad a few years ago for employment. He used to make snacks, but he could not survive as his income was not sufficient. His uncle Raja Stalin from Tamil Nadu was arrested by the Munipalli Police of Sangareddy district in 2021 in a ganja case. In order to bring him on bail, Malailiswamy came into contact with Rajesh from Kerala. Rajesh was already involved in ganja smuggling.

On learning that Malailiswamy was in financial trouble, Rajesh promised him money and encouraged him to supply ganja. He hoped that if he hires him as his driver and transports ganja for one trip, he will pay Rs.1.50 lakhs. At the same time, Ramar from the Theni district of Tamil Nadu came to Chandrayanagutta for employment. Malailiswamy, who hired Ramar as his assistant, used to bring ganja from Odisha as per Rajesh's orders. Twice in the past, he had given more than 500 kg of ganja to Rajesh. In turn, Rajesh sold ganja to his agents in Hyderabad, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka.

Both Malailiswamy and Ramar went to Odisha from Hyderabad on September 24 as per Rajesh's orders. There he bought 250 kg of ganja from local seller Chandrasekhar. However, the transportation of ganja was postponed by the ganja peddlers as they assumed that there was a chance of being caught by the police. In the meantime, 250 kg of ganja was filled in 120 packets and kept secretly in a lorry container under a load of coir. On the occasion of Ganesh immersion, a huge posse of police personnel was deployed for security in Chandrayanagutta of Hyderabad on September 29. Hence, they planned to transport on that day.

On receiving the information, the Special Operation Teams (SOT) of Maheshwaram zone comprising inspectors Jangaiah and Ravi Kumar, along with the Meerpet police, intercepted the vehicle and searched the lorry. The ganja peddlers were arrested after they were found to be hiding 250 kg of ganja concealed underneath coconut coir. The police said that further investigation will be conducted on the transportation of ganja to Sri Lanka and other states and other accused in this case will be arrested soon, they added.