Hyderabad: In a major crackdown on narcotics trafficking, Hyderabad police arrested three men and seized 908.41 kg of ganja worth ₹2.7 crore. The ganja was en route from Odisha to Maharashtra via Hyderabad.
Commissioner’s Task Force (South-East Zone) and Bandlaguda Police intercepted the suspects on October 22 near OS Palace Function Hall, Bandlaguda. The accused Mohammed Kaleem Uddin (32), Shaik Sohail (23), and Mohammed Afzal (25) are all residents of Hyderabad.
Ganja hidden under cashew shell bags
Investigators said the trio, childhood friends from Amberpet, were working for Kaleem’s brother Rahman, the main transporter. Kaleem, a heavy vehicle driver, along with Sohail and Afzal, concealed 28 HDPE bags of ganja under cashew shells in an Eicher truck. They covered the load with a tarpaulin to evade detection.
The three admitted they agreed to the job for ₹50,000 each per trip. They left Hyderabad on the night of October 16, first reaching Palasa in Srikakulam to collect cashew shells. Next, they moved to a forest near Kalimela, Malkangiri in Odisha, where they received the ganja from suppliers Jithu and Suresh. After returning to Hyderabad, they parked the loaded truck in Patel Nagar for two days before starting the journey to Nashik, Maharashtra.
Task Force intercepts vehicle based on intel
Acting on specific intelligence, the Task Force and Bandlaguda Police intercepted the truck before it exited the city. During questioning, the suspects admitted to transporting ganja for delivery to a man named Mahesh in Sanganmer, Nashik.
Network spans multiple states
Police revealed the operation is part of a broader interstate trafficking ring. Four others Rahman (Hyderabad), Jithu (Odisha), Suresh (Srikakulam), and Mahesh (Maharashtra) are absconding. Authorities have registered a case under NDPS Act sections 8(C), 20(B)(II)(C), 27(a), and 29 at Bandlaguda Police Station.
Police strengthen crackdown on drug trade
Hyderabad City Police said this operation underscores their commitment to dismantling drug networks. They urged public cooperation in reporting drug activities and reaffirmed that enforcement and awareness efforts remain a top priority.
Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar, IPS, supervised the operation. DCP S. Chaitanya Kumar (South-East Zone), ADCP Ande Srinivasa Rao, ACP A. Sudhakar, Inspector S. Saida Babu, SHO R. Devender, and Sub-Inspectors K. Rama Rao, M. Madhu, and D. Subhash led the teams, along with Task Force and Bandlaguda personnel.