Excise officials arrest nine, seize synthetic drugs, cannabis and liquor

As many as nine persons were arrested in separate cases during enforcement operations carried out by the State Task Force (STF) of the Telangana Excise and Prohibition Department in Hyderabad on Saturday (December 27, 2025), leading to the seizure of synthetic drugs, cannabis, liquor and large quantities of illegally transported jaggery. In the first case, 1.4 grams of MDMA was seized following a raid in the Beeramguda area. Following a tip-off, the STF-C team carried out a raid and arrested Thota Hanmanthu and Bappanna Pranay Sukumar. A scooter, mobile phones and the seized narcotics were recovered and handed over to the Ameerpet Excise Station for further investigation. In another case, STF-A and STF-C teams intercepted buses arriving from Bengaluru to Hyderabad during checks conducted on the city outskirts. The teams seized 10 grams of OG Kush, 101 grams of ganja and five bottles of liquor sourced from Karnataka. Excise officials intercept individuals transporting OG Kush, ganja and NDPL liquor sourced from Karnataka on a bus from Bengaluru to Hyderabad | Photo Credit: By Arrangement Three indiviudals, identified as Hamid, Arif and Harish, were arrested in connection with the seizure and were handed over to the Serilingampally Excise Station. Meanwhile, in two separate cases related to the illegal transportation of jaggery allegedly used for manufacture of illicit liquor, the STF-A team seized consignments being moved to different parts of Telangana. A mini-van travelling towards Devarakonda was intercepted, leading to the seizure of 2,016 kilograms of jaggery and 100 kilograms of alum. Gattu Venugopal and Venkataiah were arrested along with the vehicle. In another case, a rented car heading from Hyderabad to Achampet was checked, and 600 kilograms of jaggery and 100 kilograms of alum were seized. Srinu and Shankar were arrested in this case, and the vehicle was confiscated. All the accused and seized material have been handed over to the respective excise stations for further legal action. Published - December 27, 2025 08:07 pm IST

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