Hyderabad Cracks Down: Over 30 kg Ganja and Illicit Goa Liquor Seized in Dual Excise Raids

Hyderabad's fight against illicit trade saw a significant win this past Friday, as vigilant excise officials from the Medchal-Malkajgiri district swooped in on two separate operations. Their efforts culminated in the apprehension of four individuals and the seizure of a rather substantial haul: a whopping 30 kilograms of ganja and 180 bottles of illegally sourced, non-duty-paid liquor.

Let's talk about the ganja first, shall we? In a pre-dawn operation, or perhaps a sharp afternoon intercept – the reports just say Friday – officers at the bustling Balanagar checkpost in Medchal got a tip-off. They stopped a four-wheeler, and lo and behold, inside they discovered a sizeable consignment of contraband. Two men, identified as V. Krishna and G. Yakaiah, both hailing from Peddapalli district, were found to be transporting the 30-kilogram stash of ganja. Apparently, this illicit cargo had made quite the journey, originating all the way from Odisha with the clear intent of being sold right here in Hyderabad's bustling markets. It’s a stark reminder of the long supply chains these operations often involve, stretching across state lines.

Meanwhile, in a somewhat related, yet distinctly separate incident, the excise team turned their attention to Petbasheerabad. Here, their focus shifted from drugs to spirits – specifically, illegally imported alcohol. They intercepted another vehicle, a Tata Indigo, and inside they found V. Sai Kumar and J. Vasanth, both residents of Hyderabad. What were they carrying, you ask? A staggering 180 bottles of Kingfisher Strong beer. Now, before you think "what's wrong with beer?", the crucial detail here is "non-duty-paid." This means the liquor was purchased from another state, Goa in this instance, without the necessary duties being paid in Telangana. And that, my friends, makes it entirely illegal for sale or distribution within the state. It’s a common tactic for illicit traders to try and bypass local taxes, often leading to cheaper, unregulated products finding their way into the market.

In both cases, the swift action by the excise department paid off. All four accused — Krishna, Yakaiah, Sai Kumar, and Vasanth — were promptly arrested and have since been remanded to judicial custody. As is standard procedure, both the four-wheeler carrying the ganja and the Tata Indigo used for the liquor smuggling were also seized. These raids underscore the ongoing vigilance of authorities in Hyderabad, working tirelessly to curb the flow of both illegal narcotics and untaxed alcohol, which, let's be honest, can cause a whole host of problems for public health and safety.