Police seize 598 kgs ganja worth ₹2.99 crore on AP-Telangana borders, two smugglers arrested

In a huge haul, the Jeelugumilli police of Eluru district seized 598 kgs of ganja (cannabis), worth about ₹2.99 crore, being smuggled in a van.

The police team led by Jeelugumilli Circle Inspector B. Venkateswara Rao and SI V. Kranthi Kumar, intercepted the van on Andhra Pradesh-Telangana border checkpost and seized the contraband being smuggled to Beed district of Maharashtra State, said Eluru district Superintendent of Police K. Pratap Shiva Kishore.

“Two smugglers, Dileep Kumar Mohanty and Janardhan Pradhan, natives of Odisha, who were transporting the ganja stock were arrested at the border checkpost near Tatiyakulagudem village,” the SP said on Friday (March 06).

“The accused collected the ganja stock from Burugupudi village, near Rajamahendravaram, and police caught them on Thursday. We are trying to trace the other smugglers,” said Polavaram Deputy Superintendent of Police M. Venkateswara Rao, who monitored the operation.

The smugglers packed the cannabis in plastic bags and concealed them in the van, said Jangareddygudem assistant superintendent of police (ASP) Sushmita Ramanathan and trainee IPS officer Jaya Sharma.

“As part of ‘Operation Vajra Prahar’, the police conducted vehicle checking at the border checkpost and seized the ganja stock being smuggled from A.P. to Maharashtra,” the SP said.

The seized ganja, along with the accused would be produced in the court, the Mr. Pratap Shiva Kishore said and appreciated the Jeelugumilli police for busting the racket.