Drug peddler held, 17 consumers test positive for ganja in EAGLE crackdown

A drug peddler was nabbed while 17 consumers tested positive for ganja during a series of coordinated operations carried out by the EAGLE Force across Hyderabad and Malkajgiri Commissionerates following complaints received through the toll-free helpline.

The peddler was identified as Akshay (27), a resident of Boduppal. Among those apprehended as consumers were Sashi (30), Vamshi (24), Raghavender Reddy (29), Ranadhir (28), Sanjay (23), Manoj Kumar (29), Pilli Sai Kumar (35), Madhesh Sanjay Bhargav (26), Merugu Hari Charan (30), Baja Maniratnam (28), Neeraj (18), Jayanth (17), Vottikoti Shiva Kumar (24), Metri Pavan (24), Mohammad Arafath (35), and Tatikonda Sitaram Kumar Hemanth Kumar (35).

Police said a total of 18 persons were caught, of whom 17 tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive component of ganja. The cases have been transferred to the Malkajgiri Narcotics Police Station and the State Task Force for further enquiry.

During the operation in Medipally, police seized 15 packets of ganja weighing 60 grams from the possession of the peddler. Six consumers were apprehended in the same case and all of them tested positive. Efforts are on to trace the supplier, identified as Yevaraj from Dhoolpet.

In other instances, four consumers were apprehended in Chikkadpally, three in Kushaiguda, two in L.B. Nagar, and one each in Vanasthalipuram and Balapur. Most of them tested positive for ganja.

Police said the accused was remanded to judicial custody, while the consumers were counselled in the presence of their parents. Those who tested positive were handed over to the respective police stations for further action under existing government guidelines, including admission into de-addiction centres.