3 Held for Inter-State Drug Peddling

Hyderabad: Acting on a tip-off, the LB Nagar SOT, along with the Choutuppal police, arrested three inter-state drug peddlers including a woman for allegedly transporting ganja from Andhra Pradesh to Telangana.

According to the police, Devi, 39, Adduri Prasad, 33, and Kimudu Prashanth, 25, have been arrested, while the others — Muthem Prasad and Tribhuwan Gopal Rewar — are currently at large. With 14 kg ganja and three mobile phones, the total property seized was worth Rs 4, 01, 000.

Devi, a resident of Narsipatnam, Andhra Pradesh, works as a labourer and has been involved in the ganja trade after facing hardships and jail time in the past. Adduri Prasad is an auto driver from Kothakota, Andhra Pradesh, who was previously involved in an NDPS case. Kimidi Prashanth, an auto driver from Peddapeta village, Andhra Pradesh, joined the illicit operation after being promised Rs 5000 for his participation.

The trio conspired to transport 14 kg of ganja from Narsipatnam, where they purchased it at Rs 5,000 per kilogram. They intended to sell it in Hyderabad for Rs 12,000 per kilogram. The contraband was concealed in a luggage bag to avoid detection. They initially boarded a bus from Narsipatnam to Hyderabad, but fearing police checks along the direct route, they deboarded the bus in Choutuppal and awaited further instructions from their Hyderabad-based contact, Tribhuvana Gopal Rewar.

On Tuesday afternoon, police apprehended the accused at the Choutuppal bus stand and seized the ganja from them. Efforts are continued to apprehend the source and receiver.