Hans News Service Anakapalli

Ina major breakthrough against interstate and international drug trafficking, the Anakapalli police cracked a ganja smuggling network with links extending beyond national borders and seized 213.360 kilograms of ganja worth Rs.1.06 crore.

The operation was carried out on the directions of Anakapalli District Superintendent of Police Tuhin Sinha and under the supervision of Parawada Sub-Division Deputy Superintendent of Police B Mohan Rao and Parawada Circle Inspector R Mallikarjuna Rao.

Briefing details of the case at a media conference held at the District Police Office on Wednesday, SP Tuhin Sinha mentioned that main accused of the network Shaikh Ajmal Khan, hails from Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu, while his family is currently residing in Narsipatnam of Anakapalli district. Investigations revealed that Ajmal Khan has a significant international criminal background and maintained links with international drug syndicates.

According to the SP, Ajmal Khan was previously apprehended by Sri Lankan authorities in connection with narcotics trafficking.

During his arrest, Sri Lankan investigators reportedly recovered 495 grams of Methamphetamine and 8.583 kilograms of Hashish from his possession.

He was sent to the Boossa High Security Prison in Sri Lanka from 2022 to 2025 while the case remained under investigation.

Though granted bail by a Sri Lankan court, his passport remained in the custody of Sri Lankan authorities.

Anakapalli police identified that the main accused illegally re-entered India by seaway.

He allegedly established contact with a Tamil Nadu-based drug dealer identified as Raja and devised plans to transport ganja sourced from the Andhra Pradesh Agency areas to Vijayawada, Chennai and other destinations. During investigation, the SP informed that Ajmal Khan initially attempted to procure ganja by paying an advance of Rs.6 lakh to a group led by Shetty Ravikumar of Gomangi village in Pedabayalu mandal.

As the consignment was delayed, the accused sourced the ganja through Shyam from the Janaba area of Odisha.

The transportation arrangements were coordinated by Ajmal Khan’s younger brother Shaikh Abdul Rehman and another person T Durga Prasad.

After receiving credible information, a special police team led by Parawada police station Woman Sub-Inspector (WSI) GSV Mahalakshmi conducted surveillance and vehicle checks at Lankalapalem junction on June 16.

While the accused were communicating through mobile phones and moving with a pilot motorcycle escorting a car carrying the contraband, the police team strategically intercepted and surrounded both the vehicles. A thorough search led to the seizure of a large quantity of ganja concealed in the car, resulting in the arrest of five accused persons.

Commending the officers and staff involved in the successful operation, SP Tuhin Sinha felicitated DSP B Mohan Rao, CI R Mallikarjuna Rao, WSI GSV Mahalakshmi, members of the Eagle Team and other police personnel with commendation certificates and cash rewards for their exemplary work in bursting the international drug network.

The five arrested accused were produced before the court and remanded. Special police teams have been deployed to trace rest of the accused Raja, Shyam, Mahadev, Askar, Abid and Bhadri who are involved in the case. The SP stated that a comprehensive investigation is underway to uncover the interstate drug trafficking channels and hawala money transactions allegedly linked to the syndicate.