In a major crackdown on narcotics trafficking, the Telangana Prohibition and Excise Task Force arrested two individuals and busted an inter-state ganja smuggling racket on the Outer Ring Road near Medchal.
The arrested have been identified as Ganesh Ramaswamy (27) and Vijay Shankar Kulkarni (53), both hailing from Osmanabad district in Maharashtra. Authorities seized 410 kg of ganja valued at Rs2.5 crore, a cargo van used for transportation, and three mobile phones.
According to Excise Enforcement Director VB Kamalasan Reddy, the operation followed a 20-day surveillance effort by state task force teams in coordination with the Medchal excise unit.
The accused reportedly sourced the ganja from Odisha and attempted to smuggle it via Palasa in Andhra Pradesh. In an attempt to outwit law enforcement, they had concealed the contraband under a heap of jackfruit in their cargo van.
“The duo intended to distribute the ganja in smaller packets across Bidar, Tandoor, Vikarabad, and Hyderabad,” said Reddy.
This bust is part of an ongoing anti-narcotics crackdown in Telangana. Since January 1, officials have registered 1,531 NDPS cases, arrested 2,666 people, and seized over 8,387 kg of ganja along with various other narcotics.
In a special operation in Dhulpet, officials registered 111 cases and seized 456 kg of ganja, reflecting the intensified efforts of the state to curb the growing drug menace.
