Drugs Bust in Medchal: 3 Nabbed Near Pub with Ganja
Excise officials seize 3.323 kg of ganja near a Medchal pub and arrest three. EAGLE Force also freezes assets worth Rs 70 lakh in Warangal.
In a targeted crackdown on narcotics, the Excise State Task Force has successfully carried out a ganja seizure in Medchal, leading to the arrest of three young men. The operation took place near a popular cocktail bar and kitchen, highlighting the efforts of authorities to curb drug peddling in the district.
Raid Near Malibu Cocktail Bar
The operation was spearheaded by Circle Inspector Ramesh of the Excise State Task Force Team-A. Acting on a specific tip-off that ganja was being sold in the vicinity of the Malibu - Cocktail Bar & Kitchen in Gundla Pochampally, Medchal-Malkajgiri district, the team launched a swift raid.
During the search, officials discovered and seized three packets of ganja. The total weight of the contraband was recorded at 3.323 kg. Following the seizure, the police arrested three individuals identified as:
- Sheikh Mukhtar (21)
- Mohammed Ghousuddin (24)
- Shubham (21)
CI Ramesh confirmed that both the suspects and the seized narcotics have been handed over to the Medchal Excise Station for further legal proceedings and investigation.
Warangal: Assets Worth Rs 70 Lakh Forfeited
While the Medchal raid targeted street-level peddling, a much larger financial blow was dealt to a trafficking network in Warangal. The Telangana Elite Action Group for Drug Law Enforcement (EAGLE) Force has forfeited assets valued at approximately Rs 70.39 lakh.
This financial crackdown is a direct result of a massive prior seizure involving 147.300 kg of dry ganja, along with two vehicles and three mobile phones. A case had been registered against four individuals at the Warangal Narcotics Police Station under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Deep Dive into Drug Money
The EAGLE Force didn't stop at the seizure of the drugs. Under the direction of Inspector of Police B Ravinder, investigators launched a comprehensive financial probe under Section 68F of the NDPS Act, 1985. The goal was to trace the "proceeds of crime" by examining:
- Revenue passbooks and sale deeds.
- Property tax receipts and building permissions.
- Registration certificates and other ownership documents.
This meticulous investigation allowed authorities to establish financial linkages between the accused and their relatives. As a result, the EAGLE Force froze three bank accounts belonging to an individual named Munawar Ali and his family members, seizing or freezing a total amount of Rs 1,59,910.