Hyderabad: In a collaborative effort, the Hyderabad Narcotics Enforcement Wing (H-NEW) and Golconda Police captured seven people involved in drug dealing. They seized 276 grams of cocaine, worth about Rs 69 lakh. Among those arrested were four drug dealers from Mumbai, a local dealer, and two buyers.
The inter-state dealers caught are Mujaffar Wahid Shaikh (30), Vinod Kishanlal Shrivasthav (53), Chaitanya Vinayak Wagh (29), and Mustak Khan Imran (31). The local dealer, Prem (29), works in software in Hyderabad. He has a history with three previous cases. The two consumers are Ravi Kumar Varma (39) and Sachin (39).
Officials revealed a sophisticated cocaine network starting from Mumbai and affecting many parts of India. Mujaffar, based in Mumbai, obtains top-grade cocaine from a missing foreign supplier, the main source. This supplier reportedly uses sea routes to bring in cocaine, passing it to another foreign national, also missing. This second person provides the cocaine to Vinod in Mumbai. Initially, Vinod was just a transporter, moving drugs from the sub-supplier to Chaitanya, but now he sells them at higher prices for a luxurious life.
YVS Sudheendra, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Task Force/H-NEW), shared that Prem, the local dealer, picks up cocaine in Mumbai from Chaitanya and Mustak. Mustak’s brother gets his supply from foreign nationals in Kharghar, Mumbai, at a low cost. “Prem sells it locally at a much higher price, gaining significant profit for his lavish lifestyle,” Sudheendra stated.
On July 23, the H-NEW team, along with Golconda Police, carried out a joint operation. This led to the arrest of the individuals and the seizure of 276 grams of cocaine and eight mobile phones, together valued at Rs 69 lakh.
H-NEW has urged the public to be aware, pointing out a worrying trend. Educated individuals, small job workers like electricians and taxi drivers, and even unsuccessful entrepreneurs are getting involved in the drug trade.
