Metro India News | Hyderabad 

In a major crackdown on interstate drug trafficking, the HNPS and RNCC Railways Eagle Force arrested four peddlers and seized 91 kg of Ganja worth Rs 22.75 lakh. Acting on intelligence, officials intercepted the suspects transporting the contraband from Odisha to Pune via train.

The arrested individuals Prakash Chandra Pradhan (47), Basanta Badatya (20), Ghansyam Badatya (33), and Chitrasena Jani (19), all are residents of Odisha. The gang concealed Ganja in trolleys and backpacks while traveling in AC coaches from Bhubaneswar to Pune.

Investigations revealed they were working under a main supplier named Prashanth in Odisha, delivering Ganja in batches of 15 to 20kgs. The drugs were handed over in Pune to receivers identified as Sai Ram and Mommy. Each peddler earned Rs 10,000 per trip and also invested in the drug purchases, sharing profits from the trade.

Authorities recovered four mobile phones and other incriminating materials. The gang is believed to have transported drugs over 20 times in the past year. Since 2024, EAGLE Force with RPF and GRP Telangana has arrested 147 persons and seized 2,327.38 kg of ganja in 116 train-related drug cases, especially on Konark Express, East Coast, LTT, and others, thanks to vigilant monitoring, informers, and coordinated efforts across railway routes.