Two arrested with 237 kg marijuana in Hyderabad

Telangana EAGLE Force and Malkajgiri Narcotics Police busted an interstate marijuana smuggling network and seized 237 kg of contraband worth ₹ 1.18 crore from a truck container on the Vijayawada-Mumbai highway.

The two men, identified as truck owner and driver Rajesh Kumar, 33, and laborer Anil Ranganath Bichare, 35, were arrested during the operation near a function hall on National Highway-65.

According to police, Rajesh, a Bihar native who moved to Mumbai in 2015, came in contact with alleged street vendors Suresh Kedari and Dharam Shindey, who were based in Pune, about seven months ago. The duo allegedly offered him financial assistance to purchase a second-hand truck container in exchange for transporting marijuana from Odisha to Pune and Mumbai.

Rajesh allegedly bought the container four months ago and received ₹3 lakh from the duo. Police said Anil had been helping Kedari and Shindey in transporting marijuana from Odisha for the last two years.

On July 7, Kedari and Shindey allegedly gave Rajesh ₹ 1.5 lakh, including ₹ 70,000 as commission and ₹ 80,000 for travel expenses, and instructed him to meet Odisha-based supplier Pabitra Kumar Sabar alias Pitambar Sabar in Vijayawada. Anıl also accompanied him.

The duo reached Vijayawada on July 11 and after unloading PVC pipes at the airport, they allegedly along with Sabar went to Gunpur in Odisha’s Rayagada district. After waiting there for two days, they were allegedly asked to return to Visakhapatnam and wait.

It was alleged that on the night of July 14, Sabar delivered 10 bags containing 237 kg of marijuana to the duo. While the duo was returning to Pune via Hyderabad, EAGLE Force and Rachakonda Narcotics Police intercepted the container.

Police said the accused initially gave false information about their movements and claimed that they were only traveling to Visakhapatnam. However, analysis of call details records showed that they had traveled to Gunpur in Odisha. When confronted with inconsistencies, the duo allegedly explained that marijuana was hidden in the cabin of the container.

Police launched an operation to catch Kedari and Shindey, who are alleged to be financiers and hawkers, and Sabar, who is alleged to be a supplier. A case has been registered at Malkajgiri Narcotics Police Station and further investigation is ongoing.