Latest news with #Shandilya
Hindustan Times
21 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Telangana anti-drugs agency finds cartel's hawala cash in washing machine in Goa
The Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau (TGANB) uncovered a major hawala operation linked to an international drug cartel, seizing nearly ₹50 lakh in cash hidden inside a washing machine in a Goa apartment. The money was reportedly moments away from being transferred to Nigeria. TGANB director Sandeep Shandilya said the cash, collected over just two days, was recovered during a raid conducted after a month-long surveillance operation in coordination with the Goa police. 'Had we delayed the raid by an hour, the entire amount would have been transferred. It was neatly stashed inside the washing machine, ready for dispatch,' ToI quoted Shandilya as saying. According to the report, the raid was carried out at an apartment in Highland Park and at Sangeetha Mobile Shop in Mapusa. The main accused, Uttam Singh, who ran the mobile shop, was arrested. The probe agency said that Singh laundered ₹2.1 crore of drug money within a week. His modus operandi involved receiving cash from foreign nationals, routing it through informal channels to Mumbai, and then facilitating its transfer to Nigeria. The ₹49.65 lakh seized during the raid is believed to be part of a larger money laundering network and a TGANB team is being sent to Delhi for further investigation. The hawala network came to light after the arrest of Nigerian national Emmanuel Bediako alias Maxwell, from Hyderabad earlier this week, reported news agency PTI. The 34-year-old was found in possession of 150 grams of cocaine and ecstasy pills worth ₹1.25 crore. According to a TGANB statement cited by news agency PTI, Bediako had made three visits to India since 2013, operating primarily out of Goa and selling various drugs including high-purity "celebrity cocaine," regular cocaine, and MDMA. TGANB officials believe the drugs were sourced from abroad and the profits routed to Nigeria via a sophisticated laundering network involving Indian hawala operators and the Nigerian drug cartel.
New Indian Express
07-05-2025
- New Indian Express
TGANB launches anti-drug, adulterated toddy awareness drive
As part of their engagement efforts, the TGANB teams will also distribute sports kits to local youth to encourage their participation in the anti-drug movement. 'We want to spread the message: Say no to drugs. If Telangana wants to be drug-free, the youth must lead the fight against drugs,' Shandilya emphasised. The initiative comes in the wake of a serious incident in Kamareddy district on April 8, when 83 individuals were hospitalised after consuming adulterated toddy. Following the incident, TGANB teams, in coordination with local police, conducted raids on toddy shops, registering two cases, arresting eight accused, and seizing 1,087 grams of alprazolam. Highlighting the severity of the issue, Shandilya revealed that in 2024 alone, TGANB had busted seven factories illegally manufacturing alprazolam. 'We seized property worth Rs 30 crore belonging to a depot owner in Shadnagar. In another case, we are in the process of seizing additional properties linked to illegal toddy operations,' he said.
Time of India
21-04-2025
- Time of India
Cops bust e-cigarette racket in Hyderabad, two arrested
1 2 Hyderabad: The TG Anti Narcotics Bureau (TGANB) officials on Monday busted an e-cigarette racket and arrested two people. The officials seized 1,217 e-cigarettes worth Rs 25 lakh from their possession. The arrested were identified as Sadiq Lalani and his brother Anil Lalani, natives of Nampally. According to Sandeep Shandilya, TGANB director, the duo was selling banned e-cigarettes and vapes to the youth and school-going children. "They created a WhatsApp group with nearly 500 people in the name of 'SID'. They regularly share advertisements of the new products in the group. The group members purchase them by making online payments," Shandilya further said. Amit, a native of New Delhi, and Waseem from Mumbai, were supplying the e-cigarettes to Sadiq and Anil. "If the payments are above Rs 50,000, the duo uses the services of hawala operators — Mangi Ramji Goutham and CR Sharma — both from Hyderabad," he said. The officials found that the accused even used the services of transport aggregators and courier services to deliver e-cigarettes and vapours to the end users, who place the order over the phone. "Aggregators and courier companies will be held responsible for not verifying what is being picked up for delivery," Shandilya said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Co-Founder of Google Brain, Andrew Ng, Is Reported To Have Read Every... Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo Meanwhile, the police identified 13 juveniles who were involved in the network. "From the bank transactions, a conservative estimate can be made that they did e-cigarette sales to the tune of around Rs 1 crore in Hyderabad and Andhra Pradesh. E-cigarettes have 20 times more nicotine content and are addictive. All the accused are liable for 1-year imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1 lakh if convicted," the director further said.
