Hyderabad: Habeeb Nagar Police on Saturday arrested four alleged inter-state peddlers and seized 21 kg of ganja during a raid at Mangerbasti. Police conducted the operation after receiving information that two alleged suppliers would arrive in Mangerbasti to sell ganja. Officers informed senior officials and subsequently raided the suspected premises during the afternoon.
During the Habeeb Nagar ganja seizure, police apprehended all four accused before they allegedly distributed the contraband to local peddlers. Police also recovered Rs.25,000 in cash and four mobile phones. Investigators registered Crime No. 228/2026 under Sections 8(c), 20(b)(ii)(C), 25, 27(A) and 29 of the NDPS Act.
Habeeb Nagar ganja seizure exposes alleged supply chain
Police identified the alleged supplier as Sandeep Nandha Kishore Bhongade, 38, a kirana shop businessman from Maharashtra. The second accused, Rahul Rajesh Patil, 24, worked as an X-ray technician and lived in Maharashtra. Police described him as a transporter.
Authorities identified Kamble Umesh, 29, as a band worker from Mangar Basthi, Afzalsagar, Mallepally. They described him as a local transporter and peddler. The fourth accused, Kamble Suraj, 24, worked as a Swiggy delivery worker and lived in the same locality. Police also described him as a local transporter and peddler.
According to investigators, Bhongade and Patil had procured 21 kg of ganja in Maharashtra at Rs.20,000 per kg. They allegedly brought the consignment to Hyderabad on September 11. Police said the two concealed the contraband inside a jute bag and a briefcase during transportation. They allegedly planned to supply it to Umesh and Suraj at Rs.40,000 per kg.
Investigators claimed Umesh and Suraj later concealed the ganja at the house of a person identified as Reena in Mangar Basthi. They allegedly awaited further distribution to known local drug peddlers. However, police apprehended all four before the alleged distribution could take place.
Habeeb Nagar ganja seizure includes cash, phones
Police recovered 11 kg of ganja packed in 22 half-kilogram packets from a blue briefcase allegedly belonging to Bhongade. They also recovered Rs.10,000 in cash from him.
Another 10 kg, packed in 20 half-kilogram packets, came from a jute bag allegedly linked to Patil. Police also recovered Rs.15,000 in cash in connection with that consignment. The seized material additionally included an empty blue briefcase, a jute bag and four mobile phones belonging to the accused.
Police said the investigation would trace the source of the ganja and identify its intended recipients. Moreover, investigators would examine the wider supply chain and the involvement of other people.
Authorities said the number of accused could increase as the investigation progressed. Senior officers appreciated Habeeb Nagar SHO T. Purshotham Rao, Sub-Inspector M. Ashok Kumar and their team for the operation. Meanwhile, Habeeb Nagar Police said they would continue raids and enforcement against the sale, storage, transportation and procurement of narcotics.
Police appealed to the public to provide credible information about ganja-related activities. They said officers would act promptly on such information and keep informants’ identities confidential wherever permissible. Authorities also warned of stringent legal action against people involved in illegal ganja sale, supply, transportation and procurement.