The Hyderabad Central Crime Station has dismantled a smuggling ring, arresting five individuals, including a septuagenarian, while transporting 38 kg of marijuana worth ₹10 lakh from Araku to Mumbai.

  • Hyderabad CCS and Gandhi Nagar police arrested five suspects.
  • 38 kg of dry marijuana worth ₹10 lakh was seized.
  • The group included a 78-year-old homestay operator and two domestic workers.
  • The smuggling route spanned from Araku (Visakhapatnam) to Mumbai via Hyderabad.

In a significant breakthrough against narcotics trafficking, the Hyderabad Central Crime Station (CCS), in coordination with the Gandhi Nagar police, arrested a gang of five on Friday. The operation led to the seizure of 38 kg of dry marijuana, estimated to be worth approximately ₹10 lakh in the illicit market.

The arrests have sent shockwaves due to the demographic profile of the accused. Among those apprehended is 78-year-old Rajaram Swami Kannu Padaiyachi, a homestay operator from Thane, Maharashtra. Other members include 65-year-old Santosh Balaram Prajapathi, 66-year-old Vijayalaxmi Kaliyamurti Pellai from Tamil Nadu, and two domestic workers from Mumbai, Silmina Kujur (36) and Sheela Devi (48). Most of the accused reportedly have prior criminal histories related to drug transportation.

Read Also:Bihar EO Murder: Driver Confesses to Killing Vimal Kumar Over Work Pressure and Disputes

A Sophisticated Smuggling Modus Operandi

According to police investigations, the gang operated with high precision to evade detection. The suspects would procure large quantities of marijuana from Araku in the Visakhapatnam district. The contraband was meticulously packed in brown parcel covers and concealed within standard travel bags. To minimize the risk of being caught together, the group members would divide themselves and board different buses to travel toward Hyderabad.

Upon reaching Hyderabad, the suspects would stay at various lodges for about a day at pre-planned locations before proceeding to Mumbai. BozokMedia analysis shows that this fragmented travel pattern is a classic tactic used by organized crime syndicates to avoid drawing attention from law enforcement agencies.

Criminal syndicates are increasingly exploiting the elderly and domestic staff as 'mules' because they are less likely to be subjected to intense scrutiny during transit.

Why This Matters

This incident highlights the growing complexity of drug trafficking routes in India. The exploitation of elderly individuals and low-income workers for a commission of just ₹10,000 to ₹12,000 per delivery underscores the predatory nature of drug kingpins. Law enforcement is now focusing on identifying the 'unidentified source' who orchestrates these logistics and manages the distribution in major metros like Mumbai.

Did You Know?: Organized drug rings often use 'mules' who have no direct link to the high-level leadership to create a layer of insulation for the kingpins.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: What was the total value of the seized drugs?
Answer: The police seized 38 kg of marijuana with an estimated market value of ₹10 lakh.

Question 2: Where was the marijuana being transported from and to?
Answer: The marijuana was being transported from Araku in Visakhapatnam to Mumbai via Hyderabad.