Crime Hyderabad

Secunderabad Railway Police destroy Rs. 4 crore worth of ganja on World Anti-Drug Day

Secunderabad Railway Police

Hyderabad: In a major crackdown on illegal drug trafficking, the Government Railway Police (GRP) of Secunderabad district destroyed approximately 1,575 kilograms of ganja valued at Rs. 4 crores in the grey market. The destruction process took place on June 26 (Wednesday) at Romo Industries in Turkapur Village, Bhongir, coinciding with the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, also known as World Anti-Drug Day.

The seized ganja originated from various cases handled by the GRP across different divisions:

1. Secunderabad Urban: 579 kg in 22 cases, worth Rs. 1,44,75,000
2. Secunderabad Rural: 98.68 kg in 5 cases, worth Rs. 24,50,000
3. Kazipet Division: 896.70 kg in 25 cases, worth Rs. 2,24,00,000

The entire destruction process was meticulously documented through photographs and videos as per protocol.

The Railway District Secunderabad Drug Disposal Committee, chaired by Chandana Deepti, oversaw the operation. Other committee members included Nodal Officer and Member S.N. Jawed, DSRP(U) Secunderabad, Member T. Krupakar, DSRP Kazipet, and officials from various GRP units such as Secunderabad, Kacheguda, Hyderabad, Kazipet, Warangal, Khammam, Secunderabad Line, and Hyderabad Line. The activity was conducted under the guidance of Mahesh M. Bhagwat, ADGP Railway, Telangana State.

In a similar incident on June 26, 2024, the SOT-LB Nagar Zone team, along with Choutuppal Police of Rachakonda, busted an interstate drug trafficking operation. They apprehended three ganja transporters and seized 280 kg of dry ganja from them.

The arrested individuals, Bhosale Aba Machhindra, Avinash Shivaji Rathod, and Siddha Rameshwar Pujari, all hail from Maharashtra state.

According to the police, Bhosale Aba Machhindra had discontinued his intermediate studies. After completing intermediate, he worked as a cleaner on a lorry, later learning to drive and earning his livelihood as a driver. Avinash Shivaji Rathod, also known as Avi, recently completed 12th grade and discontinued further studies, presently working as a driver. Siddha Rameshwar Pujari, alias Sidhu, completed SSC and works as a driver.

Investigations revealed that the three, along with their common friend Ajay Rathod, planned to make quick money through illegal means by procuring and selling ganja. They had previously sourced ganja from Alurikota, Alimela Tehsil of Malkangiri district, Odisha State, and sold it at a higher price for significant profit. Ajay Rathod contacted Teja from Odisha, a ganja supplier, and the four pooled funds to make the purchase. On June 23, the accused traveled to Alurikota, Odisha from Solapur via Hyderabad and Khammam in two cars: an Innova vehicle with a fake number plate AP28AE5902 and a Swift Dzire with registration MH08AN3438, arranged by Ajay Rathod. There, Teja supplied approximately 280 kg of contraband dry ganja. The three loaded the ganja and were intercepted and arrested on their return journey.

The police subsequently placed the accused in judicial custody, and further investigation is ongoing.