HYDERABAD: Cyberabad police on Friday arrested a peddler near the Raikal toll gate on NH-44 and seized drugs worth Rs 3.05 crore from him. The accused, Vikas Sohu, is employed as a cook at a Marwadi dhaba in Raikal.
According to Cyberabad Police Commissioner Avinash Mohanty, the police raided the dhaba following credible information and recovered 1.5 kg of heroin, 632 grams of opium, 1 kg of ganja, 2.8 kg of poppy straw, Rs 89,700 in cash, a digital weighing machine, polythene bags and three smartphones, together worth Rs 3.05 crore. Of this, the heroin alone is estimated to be worth Rs 3 crore.
Three accused, Salim, Raju and another individual also named Raju, are absconding. A manhunt has been launched to trace them. “They helped the accused procure drugs from Rajasthan. Efforts are underway to arrest them,” Mohanty said.
Police stated that the accused sold drugs only to known customers.
Sohu arrived in Raikal in 2019 to work at the Sanju Bhai Marwadi Dhaba near the Raikal toll gate, close to Shadnagar. Initially employed as a watchman, he gradually learnt how to cook and eventually became the chef.
Police said the dhaba’s owner, Sanju Bhai, was known to consume ganja. If approached, he would sell ganja at a higher price. He sourced it from Salim, a resident of Dhoolpet and sold it to lorry drivers and others.
In 2022, both Sohu and Sanju were arrested by Jadcherla police for selling ganja. Ganja was supplied to the dhaba by Raju, a resident of Maheshwaram. It was purchased at Rs 300 per 25 grams and sold at Rs 500.
One Ganpath from Madhya Pradesh supplied heroin, opium and poppy straw. The group reportedly bought opium at Rs 1,300 per 10 grams and sold it at Rs 2,000, poppy straw at Rs 500 per 250 grams and sold it at Rs 1,500 and heroin at Rs 12,000 per gram and sold it for 15,000.
Following the death of Sanju a month ago, Sohu continued selling the drugs. Last week, he purchased 1.5 kg of heroin, 750 grams of opium, 3.5 kg of poppy straw from Ganpath and 1.5 kg of ganja from Raju. He sold part of the stock, earning Rs 89,700.