Ganja Chocolates and Liquor Smuggling: Odisha to Hyderabad Under New Year Scrutiny

Hyderabad: As New Year celebrations approach, Telangana's Excise Police have intensified checks, seizing contraband including ganja-infused chocolates and duty-free liquor being transported illegally.

Ganja Chocolates Seized in Transit

Authorities intercepted 1,000 ganja-laced chocolates from a private travel bus traveling from Odisha to Hyderabad. The bust occurred at the Kodada-Rampur Expressway, where Excise CI Shankar and his team acted on a tip-off and stopped the Cauvery travel bus.

The suspect, identified as Anil Kumar from Odisha, was arrested at the scene. Investigations revealed that the chocolates, priced at ₹30 each, were intended for sale to workers in Hyderabad. The contraband weighed approximately 5 kilograms.

Further inspection led to the discovery of six individuals—Anil Kumar, Rajnishree, Bankinchandrasree, Mamita Nayak, Sanjeevani Dehuri, and Janu Nayak—all from Mayurbhanj district, Odisha, smuggling the chocolates. The bus, which originated in Bhubaneswar, was taken to the Kodada excise office at Nallabandagudem on the AP-Telangana border for thorough checks.

Passengers aboard the bus claimed earlier inspections in Palasa, Andhra Pradesh, failed to uncover the ganja-filled chocolates.

Liquor Smuggling from Goa and Chennai

In a separate operation, the Telangana Excise Police confiscated 43 bottles of liquor worth ₹2 lakh from the Vasco da Gama train traveling from Goa to Hyderabad. Additional raids at Shamshabad Airport and Secunderabad Railway Station led to the seizure of non-duty-paid liquor worth ₹3 lakh in total.

During routine searches of the Vasco da Gama train, police uncovered 95 bottles (82.38 liters) of liquor. Officials suspect the bottles were intended for illegal distribution during New Year celebrations.

In another incident, 18 liquor bottles were seized from Faizal Adil of Sheikhpet, who attempted to distribute the alcohol purchased online from a supplier in Chennai. The illicit consignment, valued at ₹1 lakh, was traced back to a supplier named Satish.

Police Crack Down on Holiday Smuggling

With New Year festivities looming, Telangana's excise authorities are stepping up efforts to curb the transportation of banned substances and untaxed goods. Cases have been registered, and suspects are in custody as investigations continue.