Telangana EAGLE Force Busts Interstate Drug Network, Arrests 5

The Telangana Police's EAGLE Force has dismantled an interstate drug supply network operating from the forests of Odisha to Hyderabad, following a 10-week intelligence investigation that originated from a tip in Kukatpally.

The crackdown culminated during an intensive 36-hour operation conducted across the intervening night of August 12 and 13. Police arrested five alleged drug suppliers from Odisha, identified as Sanjya Mari, Kamesh Mari, Dambu Khora, Anasu Khara, and Sethi Rakesh. A juvenile linked to the operation was served a notice and released under applicable legal provisions.

The investigation originally began on May 28 after a tip was received through the EAGLE Force anti-drug helpline, 1908. The alert named 27-year-old Kukatpally resident Satya Avinash as an alleged seller of MDMA and LSD. Upon questioning, Avinash tested positive for ganja, and his interrogation helped investigators uncover the broader interstate network.

According to police, the network operated using digital tools with minimal direct contact between buyers and sellers. Drugs were ordered through WhatsApp, financial transactions were conducted via PhonePe, and customers were sent Google Maps coordinates indicating dead-drop locations where they could pick up their packages.

Following the initial lead, intelligence teams tracked the supply chain through June and July. The route spanned from the Koraput forests in Odisha, moved across Pachipenta and Vizianagaram in Andhra Pradesh, and entered Hyderabad via Balanagar. The probe identified approximately 31 carriers, five key network operators, and around 230 consumers.

In addition to arresting the suppliers, police took action against the consumer base. Around 180 suspected consumers were identified, and 100 individuals, including seven students, were apprehended or detained. Medical screening revealed that 80 of those detained tested positive for narcotics. Authorities presented 38 individuals before a magistrate to be referred to de-addiction facilities, with rehabilitation measures planned for the others.

Police noted that the suppliers remain in custody facing legal proceedings, while the apprehended consumers have been referred for investigation and medical rehabilitation. The department has urged students, parents, and members of the public to report drug-related activities by contacting the EAGLE Force helpline on 1908.