Cop's tip-off leads to bust of inter-state drug network traced to Goa
Hyderabad: A vigilant constable's surveillance at a Hyderabad court uncovered a shocking revelation. A drug peddler, already facing a 2018 narcotics case, was reportedly attending court hearings while carrying contraband.
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Acting on the tip-off, sleuths from the Telangana Anti Narcotics Bureau (TGANB) apprehended the accused, leading to the unravelling of a series of drug rackets with roots in Parra village in Goa. These rackets had a far-reaching network supplying narcotics to several metropolitan cities, including Hyderabad.
The investigation led to the arrest of Livio Joseph Almeida, a Goa resident, who was found to have an active clientele of 48 individuals from Hyderabad, regularly purchasing cocaine and MDMA.
Alongside him, his associate Ubalanka Shankar from Hyderabad was also arrested last month.
Livio admitted to sourcing drugs from local suppliers in Parra, which subsequently led to the arrest of another peddler, Benjamin Fosu, also from Parra. During interrogation, Fosu revealed that Nigerian drug networks were actively operating from other Goa hotspots such as Anjuna and Siolim.
The TNANB's findings aligned with earlier arrests, including that of a DJ, Swadeep, in 2024, who was allegedly procuring drugs from Parra to sell at events.
Similarly, in another case, a doctor was arrested for allegedly purchasing drugs from a dealer named Balakrishna.
TGANB surveillance showed Balakrishna, a Mumbai resident, travelled discreetly to Hyderabad by private bus, blending in as a casual traveller. He used bike taxis and adopted a low-profile approach while delivering narcotics, including to the doctor, during seemingly routine meetings.
Sources said this string of arrests underscores the evolving tactics of drug peddlers and the inter-state links between Goa-based cartels and urban consumers, particularly in Hyderabad.
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