HYDERABAD: Cyberabad Police have arrested five individuals belonging to Andhra Pradesh who were allegedly conspiring to sell cocaine mixed with ephedrine in Kukatpally. Among the accused is a serving Armed Reserve (AR) constable attached to Task Force from Andhra Pradesh, identified as Gunashekar, who is currently absconding.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Unnam Surendra alias Suri, Dothireddy Haribabu Reddy, Chegudi Mercy Margaret, Shaik Masthan Vali and Devaraju Yesu Babu. Along with Constable Gunashekar, another accused, a known drug peddler named Appanna, is also on the run.
According to the police, the accused were intercepted at Kukatpally while trying to find potential buyers. Authorities seized 820 grams of a cocaine-ephedrine mix, estimated to be worth Rs 1 crore.
Investigation revealed that Gunashekar proposed the sale of ephedrine to make quick profits. Attracted by the idea, Surendra conspired with his associates, Haribabu Reddy, Mercy Margaret, Shaik Masthan Vali and Yesu Babu, to sell the drug in Hyderabad.
Surendra had earlier been in contact with Mercy Margaret, who previously worked at Keerthana Finance in Kandukur, Prakasam district. He would refer gold loan customers to her in exchange for commission.
However, disputes later arose between Surendra, Margaret, and her friend Shaik Masthan Vali over the repayment of a “hand loan”. Surendra’s friend, Dothireddy Haribabu Reddy, a road contractor from Karlapalem Mandal in Bapatla district, attempted to mediate. During discussions, Margaret involved her friend, Devaraju Yesu Babu, a private loan agent from Addanki, who claimed he knew potential buyers in Hyderabad.
On May 29, Surendra collected 820 grams of the drug from Gunashekar in Tirupati and travelled to Hyderabad via Guntur. The group was apprehended while searching for customers in Kukatpally.
Police are continuing their investigation to trace the absconding constable and peddler.