Hyderabad police arrest interstate drug peddlers, seize items worth Rs. 35 lakhs
Hyderabad: The Special Operations Team (SOT) of Maheshwaram, along with the Ibrahimpatnam police, has successfully apprehended two interstate drug peddlers involved in the transportation of Ganja on August 27, 2024.
The arrests were made under Cr. No. 441/2024 U/s. 318 (4) BNS and Sec 8(C) r/w 20(b)(ii)(C) & Sec. 27 of the NDPS Act, 1985, at the Ibrahimpatnam police station, Andhra Pradesh.
The accused have been identified as Valmik Rupa Mohite (53), a resident of Peer Baba Mandir, Malgaon, Nashik, Maharashtra, and Bhatu Devram Chavan (39), a resident of Near Marathi School, Tikhi, Tal Dhule, Dhule, Maharashtra. Mohite is engaged in the transport business, while Chavan is a peddler and consumer of Ganja. Tirupathi, a resident of Araku, Andhra Pradesh, who served as the source of the Ganja, is currently absconding.
Police seized 60 kg of ganja, Rs.1,500 in cash, three mobile phones, and a Maruti Swift car bearing registration number MH03-AM—9368. The total worth of the seized items is Rs. 35,00,000 (Thirty-five Lakhs).
According to the police investigation, Mohite, previously operating a transport vehicle for state-to-state shipments, had hired his relative, Chavan, as a helper and co-driver. Chavan, addicted to Ganja, began frequent contact with Tirupathi after a prior encounter in Visakhapatnam.
Following losses in his transport business, Mohite sold his vehicle and, alongside Chavan, planned to smuggle Ganja to Maharashtra for profit. They purchased a Maruti Swift car, replaced its number plate with a fake one to evade police detection, and traveled from Pendurthy in Andhra Pradesh to collect 60 kg of Ganja.
To avoid detection, they used a route through Rajamahendravaram, Vijayawada, Suryapet, Choutuppal, and Ibrahimpatnam.
On August 27, 2024, based on a tip-off from the SOT, the Maheshwaram Zone team, along with Ibrahimpatnam police, intercepted their vehicle at Raipole village in Ibrahimpatnam Mandal, Ranga Reddy district. The accused were arrested, and the contraband was seized.
Public Advisory:
The police appeal to the public and students to recognise that procuring, selling, transporting, and consuming banned narcotics and drugs is a serious crime, punishable by up to 10 years of imprisonment or even the death penalty under Section 31A of the NDPS Act. The community is urged to assist the police in combating this menace.
The operation was conducted under the direct supervision of G. Sudheer Babu, IPS, Commissioner of Police, Rachakonda
