Three held with 10.16 kg marijuana in Mallepally

Three persons were arrested for transporting 10.16 kg of marijuana from Maharashtra to Mallepally.

Acting on specific information, a Special Task Force team of Prohibition and Excise Department conducted a raid near a fuel station in Mallepally on Friday. During the operation, officials seized 10.16 kg of dry marijuana.

The arrested persons were identified as Prem Chandrakanth Hatwalne, 27, Sakat Shankar, 21, and Kasbe Raju, 40. Police said three other accused, identified as Shivraj Hatagade, Akshay and Jawed, are absconding.

Investigations revealed that Prem Chandrakanth Hatwalne, a native of Maharashtra, allegedly supplied marijuana to his associates in Mallepally, who then distributed it locally through a network of peddlers. The contraband was reportedly transported from Nagpur for sale in the city.

The accused, along with the seized material, were handed over to the Nampally Prohibition and Excise Station staff for further investigation. Officials said efforts are under way to apprehend the absconding persons.