Hyderabad: The Prohibition and Excise Department in Khammam seized 106 kg of ganja worth ₹53 lakh and six firearms during a vehicle check in Paloncha. Police arrested three persons in connection with the operation.
Khammam excise officials seize ganja and arms
Officials recovered the contraband from a goods van and a car during routine checks on Thursday. The accused were identified as Bilal VS of Ernakulam (Kerala), and Shyam Sundar and Kasinandan Santosh of Tiruchi (Tamil Nadu). They admitted that they procured the ganja from Odisha and were transporting it to Trichy via Bhadrachalam, Kothagudem, Khammam, and Chennai.
Nexus with firearms smuggling
Investigators revealed that the accused also worked with gangs in Kerala. These gangs purchased illegal firearms from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, and smuggled them to Kochi. Officials handed over the seized weapons to Paloncha police for further investigation.
Case details and arrests
Authorities registered a case and confiscated two vehicles, ₹35,500 in cash, 40 live rounds, and 12 empty magazines. One suspect, James of Tiruchi, identified as Shyam Sundar’s associate, is absconding. Police produced the arrested men before the court, which remanded them to judicial custody.
Excise Commissioner C. Hari Kiran, Enforcement Director Shahnawaz Qasim, and Deputy Commissioner G. Janardhan Reddy praised Assistant Commissioner G. Ganesh and his enforcement team for the successful operation.
