Latest news with #TelanganaAntiNarcoticsBureau
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Drug cartel's hawala cash trail ends in washing machine in Goa flat, Rs 50L seized
Hyderabad: In a major breakthrough, Telangana Anti Narcotics Bureau's (TGANB) investigation to trace the inter-state hawala cash trail of international drug cartels ended in a washing machine in a Goa flat, from which it seized Rs 50 lakh a few days ago. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now TGANB director Sandeep Shandilya, said the money, collected over just two days, was moments away from being laundered to Nigeria. "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," he said. Following a month-long surveillance operation in Goa, TGANB --- assisted by Goa police --- zeroed in on hawala transactions being conducted from Sangeetha Mobile Shop in Mapusa and an apartment in Goa's Highland Park. The key accused, Uttam Singh, who runs the mobile shop, was arrested. Investigators revealed he had laundered Rs 2.1 crore of drug proceeds in just one week. "Drug money collected in cash was handed over to Uttam, often by foreign nationals. He then moved the funds to Mumbai through informal channels, and from there, it was transferred to Nigeria," Shandilya explained. The investigation into the hawala trail started after Nigerian national Emmanuel Bediako, alias Maxwell, revealed it to TGANB. Between May 26 and June 1, officials tracked 58 hawala transactions involving Rs 2.1 crore. A few days after establishing this link, a raid on Highland Park apartment led to the recovery of Rs 50 lakh in cash. Over the past month, four Nigerian nationals have been arrested during TGANB operations in Goa. Crime branch in Goa also seized narcotics worth Rs 1.6 crore, including ecstasy and cocaine, from them. Authorities believe Uttam is one of several hawala operators facilitating cross-border drug money transfers. Police suspect a wider network of hawala operators is active, working hand-in-glove with international narcotics cartels.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Drug cartel's hawala cash trail ends in washing machine in Goa
HYDERABAD: In a major breakthrough, Telangana Anti Narcotics Bureau's (TGANB) investigation to trace the inter-state hawala cash trail of international drug cartels ended in a washing machine in a Goa flat, from which it seized Rs 50 lakh a few days ago. TGANB director Sandeep Shandilya, said the money, collected over just two days, was moments away from being laundered to Nigeria. "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," he said. Following a month-long surveillance operation in Goa, TGANB --- assisted by Goa police --- zeroed in on hawala transactions being conducted from Sangeetha Mobile Shop in Mapusa and an apartment in Goa's Highland Park. 'Accused laundered over 2 crore of drug proceeds' The key accused, Uttam Singh, who runs the mobile shop, was arrested. Investigators revealed he had laundered Rs 2.1 crore of drug proceeds in just one week. "Drug money collected in cash was handed over to Uttam, often by foreign nationals. He then moved the funds to Mumbai through informal channels, and from there, it was transferred to Nigeria," Shandilya explained. The investigation into the hawala trail started after Nigerian national Emmanuel Bediako, alias Maxwell, revealed it to TGANB. Between May 26 and June 1, officials tracked 58 hawala transactions involving Rs 2.1 crore. A few days after establishing this link, a raid on Highland Park apartment led to the recovery of Rs 50 lakh in cash. Over the past month, four Nigerian nationals have been arrested during TGANB operations in Goa. Authorities believe Uttam is one of several hawala operators facilitating cross-border drug money transfers. Police officials suspect a wider network of hawala operators is active, working hand-in-glove with international narcotics cartels.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
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. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 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.
Time of India
12-05-2025
- Time of India
Now, drug test for DJs at city pubs
Hyderabad: The spotlight is turning harsh on Hyderabad's pubs, with Telangana Anti Narcotics Bureau (TGANB) officials and Cyberabad police deciding to put disc jockeys (DJs) through random drug tests, especially those flying in from abroad."In case a DJ who was previously caught for violation of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act is performing in the city, organisers employing him/her must provide a conduct certificate to the police, confirming that he/she is free of drug abuse," a source from TGNAB official said surveillance is being stepped up across the nearly 90 pubs in Hyderabad and move comes after several DJs were found acting as middlemen for drug peddlers. In the last six months, police booked seven DJs for allegedly supplying drugs after befriending partygoers at pubs and private events. Police found the DJs were more than just entertainers — they acted as conduits for drug supply, particularly synthetic the most recent case involving the former CEO of a corporate hospital, investigations revealed it was a DJ who allegedly supplied cocaine to her regularly. The doctor, along with her courier, was caught with 53 grams of are now on the lookout for the Mumbai-based DJ suspected to have supplied cocaine to the former the past, police officials said a foreign DJ had objected to being tested, stating that he had just returned from Amsterdam, where marijuana is legal. However, police insisted that he undergo tests and come clean for other drugs."In another case, one DJ had purchased synthetic drugs abroad. After nabbing him, we were able to bust a drug peddling racket linked to Goa," a source in TGNAB said. There was also an instance in Madhapur, where the DJ allegedly fled just as his performance was about to begin, after he was tipped off about an impending raid."We have already subjected some DJs to surprise tests in recent months. We are now warning them to steer clear of drugs and ensure the spaces they perform at remain free of narcotics," the source added.
New Indian Express
28-04-2025
- New Indian Express
Telangana anti-narcotics bureau arrests 30-yr-old Nigerian drug peddler
HYDERABAD: Telangana Anti Narcotics Bureau (TGANB) apprehended a 30-year-old Nigerian drug peddler for allegedly smuggling drugs in the city. The accused, Ezeonyili Franklin Uchenna alias Kaleshi, was arrested near Taramati Baradari on April 24, when he was allegedly smuggling drugs. Officials confiscated travel itinerary, flight tickets, bank documents and some drug-related information from him. During the investigation, Kaleshi confessed that he came to Hyderabad in September 2022 to assist a drug peddler, Divine Ebuka Suzee and his brother, Uche Happiness, in their illegal business in the city. His job was to collect consignments from Joana Gomes, who would smuggle drugs from New Delhi, and deliver them to the peddlers. Instructed by Ebuka, Kaleshi came from Bengaluru to deliver drugs to a customer near Taramati Baradari. He was caught by the police after he was spotted waiting for customers. Police recovered a pendrive, containing PDFs of visas, travel itineraries and other travel-related documents. Notably, one document contained the names of 411 African nationals who had collectively contributed Rs 9.42 crore towards the illegal business. The drive also contained 138 pictures of drugs, bank details and WhatsApp chats.
