Hyderabad: The lockdown imposed in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh came in handy for a city-based drug peddlers’ gang headed by a woman to bring marijuana to Hyderabad from Visakhapatnam, surreptitiously hiding it in a vehicle getting essential commodities, said officials of Prohibition and Excise department.
The gang managed to get the contraband to the city after travelling 621 km from the agency area in Visakhapatnam. But the gang ran out of luck when the excise officials nabbed two of its members — Satish Singh, 22, a resident of Lower Dhoolpet and Thakur Akash Singh, 23, of Karwan – at Puranapul on Sunday. The officials also seized eight kg of marijuana, three mobile phones and two motorcycles from their possession.
According to the officials, believing that the police would not check the vehicles that were bringing essential commodities, the peddlers hid the contraband in a vehicle, which was heading to the city. Maintaining contact with the driver over phone, the peddlers’ successfully brought marijuana to the city. During interrogation, Satish and Akash revealed that they were doing marijuana business following instructions from Ranjitha, 38, a resident of Jali Hanuman in Dhoolpet.
A month ago, the Task Force police seized 26 kg of marijuana from two sons of Ranjitha at her house at Mohandas Mutt in Jali Hanuman. In that case, Ranjitha is absconding. Ranjitha, with the help of her associates, was receiving the contraband from two suppliers Shekar alias Rajashekar and Chintu, both natives of Visakhapatnam in bulk.
She was, in turn, planning to sell it to local sellers Ritesh and Pradeep Singh, residents of Dhoolpet and Gayatri Bai of Tilaknagar in Nalakunta. Excise officials said efforts were on to trace Ranjitha, Shekar, Chintu, Ritesh, Pradeep and Gayatri.
When contacted, Assistant Excise Superintendent (Enforcement), Hyderabad, N Anjireddy said surveillance has been stepped up at strategic locations after arresting Ranjitha’s associates. “We will get more details once Ranjitha and other associates are arrested,” he said.
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Two held with 8 kg marijuana in Hyderabad
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