Khammam: Excise officials in Telangana have seized 365 kg of ganja valued at Rs 1.82 crore and arrested three people from Odisha in a coordinated operation in Bhadrachalam and Karunagiri.
According to the Khammam Excise Department, joint teams from the Kothagudem and Bhadrachalam District Task Forces, along with Khammam Excise units, intercepted vehicles allegedly transporting ganja from Odisha towards Maharashtra near Veerabhadra Function Hall in Bhadrachalam.
During the operation, officials first stopped a motorcycle and recovered nine kg of ganja. The rider, identified as Odisha native Diwakar Mandal, was taken into custody and the motorcycle was seized.
Officials subsequently checked a car suspected of travelling behind the motorcycle and recovered another 100 kg of ganja from inside the vehicle. Suman Paul, a 22-year-old electrician from Odisha, was arrested in connection with the seizure.
During questioning, investigators received information about another vehicle allegedly carrying ganja. Officials later searched a lorry stationed at Karunagiri and recovered 263.2 kg of ganja.
Two people found inside the lorry, identified as 22-year-old Rajasekhar Margi and 20-year-old cleaner Brijan Nasa, were taken into custody. Both are natives of Odisha, while the lorry was also registered in Odisha.
The combined seizures from the motorcycle, car and lorry amounted to 365 kg of ganja. Khammam District Deputy Commissioner Somireddy said the seized narcotics were estimated to be worth Rs 1.82 crore.
Further investigation is underway to establish the source of the contraband and its intended destination.
