The Eagle (Elite Action Group for Drug Law Enforcement), has arrested three persons and seized over 935kgs of marijuana worth Rs 5 crore by dismantling an organized smuggling ring operating across Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.

The arrested persons identified as Pawar Kumar Badu, suspected to be the kingpin and financier of the operation, S Kantilal Bhise, the hired driver and Vinayak Baba Saheb Pawar, who was the logistic assistant and escort vehicle operator.

Acting on a tip-off, the Eagle team intercepted a Tata Eicher truck, suspected to be carrying the narcotics, escorted by a Toyota Innova near Batasingaram fruit market junction on the Vijayawada National Highway. The vehicles were stopped and upon inspection, officials discovered 35 bags camouflaged under empty plastic fruit trays which had marijuana concealed in them.

According to the police, investigations revealed the racket was masterminded by Pawar Kumar Badu, a repeat NDPS offender from Maharashtra, in coordination with Sachin Gangaram Chouhan (currently absconding) and Vicky Seth, an Odisha-based supplier.

Pawar and his associates travelled from Maharashtra to Rajahmundry in a rented car on July 23. The drug was loaded into the Tata Eicher truck by the supplier in Rajahmundry and camouflaged for transit under fruit trays. The convoy proceeded with the Innova escorting the truck to avoid law enforcement checks.