Seven arrested, nearly 48 kg of ganja seized in separate operations in Hyderabad

Seven people, including a college student, were arrested and nearly 48 kg of ganja worth around ₹24.9 lakh was seized in three separate anti-narcotics operations carried out across Hyderabad.

The largest seizure was made by the Commissioner’s Task Force, Charminar zone, and the Balapur police, who arrested three inter-State ganja peddlers and seized 22.22 kg of dry ganja worth around ₹12 lakh near Sadat Nagar bus stop in Balapur.

The accused were identified as Mirza Jaffer Baig alias Saddam (35), an auto driver and rowdy-sheeter, Awad Bin Ali Yafai (22), a wall painter, and Manpreet Singh Dhillon (22), a welder. Police also seized four mobile phones, two trolley bags and a backpack.

According to the police, the trio travelled to Berhampur in Odisha on July 17 and purchased the contraband for ₹5,000 per kg from a supplier identified as Janni alias Sunny. They then transported the ganja by train to Khammam before travelling onwards to Hyderabad by bus in an attempt to evade police surveillance.

They were waiting to deliver the consignment on the instructions of the kingpin, Ibrahim Bin Saleem Baamar, when they were apprehended. Police said Ibrahim Baamar and Janni are absconding. Police said Mirza Jaffer Baig is a habitual offender with 22 criminal cases, including murder and attempt to murder, registered against him. Awad was also found to be involved in 10 theft cases, while Dhillon has two attempt-to-murder cases against him.

In another operation, the Regional Narcotics Control Cell (Railways) of the EAGLE Force and Musheerabad police arrested three persons with 11.767 kg of ganja worth nearly ₹5.9 lakh at Risalagadda Haveli in Bakaram.

The accused were identified as Burthi Raju Kumar, 25, a driver, Yarnagula Lakshmi Jagadeesh, 20, a second-year BA student, and Marampudi Ravi Raju, 19, a labourer. A fourth accused, Reshwanth alias Nimmu, is absconding. Police said the ganja was procured from Visakhapatnam and transported to Hyderabad by train for sale.

Reshwanth had asked the three accused to wait with the contraband while he went to bring prospective buyers. The trio was apprehended before the delivery could take place.

Investigators said Jagadeesh had joined the racket to pay the EMI on a recently purchased motorcycle.

In a third case, the Cyberabad Enforcement wing arrested Nakul Yadav (27) near Lingampally Railway Station and seized 14 kg of ganja worth about ₹7 lakh along with ₹2,890 in cash. Police said the contraband was transported from Berhampur in Odisha and was being brought to Hyderabad for delivery. The accused was later handed over to the Serilingampally Excise Station staff for further legal action.

Further investigation is under way in all three cases.