Speaking at a media briefing, Superintendent of Police Tuhin Sinha said the seized contraband was estimated to be worth ₹97 lakh in the grey market.
Acting on specific intelligence, a joint operation involving the Eagle Team, Special Branch and Buchayyapeta police led to a vehicle intercept at the Gonnavanipalem junction on the Bangarumetta-Anakapalli road on May 11, 2026.
The police detained three persons, identified as Gummala Perunaidu, a habitual offender with six prior cases; Mandipalli Sathibabu, a cultivator from the Alluri Sitharama Raju district; and Gollavelli Ganesh, who were transporting the illicit cargo in a Maruti Ciaz and a scooter.
Mr. Sinha said the district had adopted a zero-tolerance policy that extended beyond mere seizures to financial dismantling and rigorous prosecution.
“Over the past year-and-a-half, the department has successfully secured convictions in 13 cases, with 16 individuals receiving lengthy prison sentences ranging from 10 to 15 years. The police have frozen assets worth ₹1.25 crore linked to NDPS offences through detailed financial investigations,” he said.
The SP said that while traditional ganja smuggling had seen a decline due to intensified vigil, there was a trend of smugglers shifting towards hashish oil for easier concealment, as shown by the recovery of 7.14 litres of the substance this year.
Commending the operational team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) M. Sravani and Circle Inspector (CI) G. Koteswara Rao, the district police chief urged the public to use the 112 and 1972 toll-free numbers to report drug-related activities, with total anonymity guaranteed for informants.
Published – May 12, 2026 05:03 pm IST
