Visakhapatnam: Madugula police seized 408 kilograms of cannabis (ganja) and two kilograms of Hash oil valued at more than Rs. 21 lakhs during vehicle checks on Tuesday morning. The operation led to the arrest of three individuals with previous records of drug-related offenses.
Anakapalli District Superintendent of Police, Tuhin Sinha , revealed the details during a press conference. According to officials, the operation was conducted following intelligence about a drug transfer operation on the outskirts of Garikbanda Village in Tatiparthi Panchayat.
"Acting on specific intelligence, K. Kotapadu CI Paidipu Naidu and SI Narayana Rao, along with V. Madugula police station personnel, intercepted a drug transfer operation at approximately 9:30 AM," SP Sinha stated. The contraband was being transferred from a vehicle to a lorry.
The seized cannabis was professionally packed in 204 brown packets distributed across 21 bags. Police also confiscated three cell phones and a motorcycle during the operation. Among the arrested individuals, one suspect hails from Kerala's Ernakulam district and was previously involved in a cannabis case in Payakaraopeta. The other two suspects are from Alluri Sitamaraju District, with one having a prior record in Annavaram.
In a separate but related operation the same day, Kottakota police intercepted a vehicle at Dondapudi check post at 5:00 AM, seizing an additional 40 kg of cannabis. Four suspects, all from Kerala's Kottayam district, were arrested while attempting to flee. Police recovered five mobile phones and Rs. 8,000 in cash from their possession.
SP Tuhin Sinha emphasized that these operations were part of the state government's intensified anti-narcotics campaign, implemented under the direction of state DGP Dwaraka Tirumala Rao. "We have established special vigilance on known drug trafficking routes and implemented both static and dynamic checkpoints throughout the district," he added.
