Hyderabad: Hyderabad Narcotic Enforcement Wing (HNEW), in coordination with Langar House police, busted an interstate drug racket and seized narcotics worth ₹70 lakh on November 13.
The team arrested five individuals, including a repeat offender and two delivery agents. They recovered five kilograms each of hash oil and ganja, along with a Honda Aviator scooter, six mobile phones, cash, and packaging materials.
HNEW identified the prime accused as Vykunta Rao alias Balu, a Srikakulam native with prior drug offenses. He procured the contraband from Odisha, working through suppliers Krushna Jalla and Paul Khila. Both are reportedly part of a wider drug network.
Rao distributed the drugs across Hyderabad and Cyberabad using two relatives, Balaji and Chaitanya, as delivery agents. He repackaged hash oil into five-gram bottles and rolled paper sachets for resale at high margins.
To evade detection, Rao used virtual phone numbers and operated only during fixed hours. Investigators said he lived a lavish lifestyle funded by drug proceeds.
DCP Gaikwad Vaibhav Raghunath confirmed that Inspector G.S. Daniel, SI C. Venkata Ramulu, and Langar House police personnel conducted the operation. They booked the accused under relevant sections of the NDPS Act, 1985.
Authorities are continuing their investigation to trace other members of the supply chain. Meanwhile, police urged the public to report drug-related activities to the HNEW helpline at 8712661601.