30-05-2025
Rs 38 lakh worth dry ganja seized, 9 arrested in Anakapalli district
Visakhapatnam: The Rolugunta police in Anakapalli district conducted a raid at oil-palm orchards between Kothalam and Addasaram villages and seized 750 kgs of dry cannabis worth over Rs 38 lakh and arrested nine individuals.
According to Anakapalli district police chief Tuhin Sinha, the raid was carried out based on credible information about the illegal storage of cannabis.
During the operation, the police team discovered suspects unloading ganja from a car and quickly surrounded the area, arresting nine individuals while two others escaped. The police confiscated 750 kg of dry cannabis, one four-wheeler, three bikes, and Rs 2,500 in cash from the suspects.
Upon interrogation, the arrested individuals revealed that the main accused, V Govinda and Bangaru Appala Naidu, had sourced the contraband from Papulu Venkatesh in Kalimela, Malkangiri district of Odisha. The investigation revealed that the suspects had transported and hid 600 kg of cannabis at the plantation four days prior to the bust and were caught while attempting to store an additional 150 kg.
The suspects' roles were also uncovered, with T Venkata Srinivasa Raja, K Rakesh, and B Nanaji assisting in collection, storage, and transportation logistics, while M Laxman Reddy and M Siva Kumar arranged the vehicle for the illegal trade. The investigation indicated that this was not the first offense for some suspects, with Govinda previously implicated in four ganja-related cases and Anji Babu involved in two prior cases.
The police continue their investigation to apprehend the two suspects who escaped.
