In a significant crackdown on an international narcotics network, the Nathavaram police in Andhra Pradesh's Anakapalle district have apprehended eight individuals. The arrested include a software engineer based in Bengaluru, accused of smuggling high-quality Sheelavathi strain cannabis from the Andhra-Odisha border regions to Tamil Nadu and even Sri Lanka.
The 'Lady Don' and Her Network
At the center of this elaborate operation was a 28-year-old woman identified as Gade Renuka, a native of Santhakaviti in Vizianagaram district. Police reports indicate her extensive involvement in cannabis trafficking across Payakaraopeta, Narsipatnam, Saluru, and Bengaluru had earned her the notorious moniker "lady don." Renuka, along with her associate Surya Kalidas, had strategically rented a house in Narsipatnam. This location served as a base for procuring cannabis from Odisha and coordinating its supply chain to other states and countries.
Modus Operandi and Interstate Links
Investigations revealed a well-organized supply chain. Renuka, with the assistance of a middleman named Adduri Prasad, sourced the cannabis directly from tribal cultivators in the Balimela and Chitrakonda areas of Odisha. The procurement price was reportedly around Rs 5,000 per kilogram. To expand her operations, she had also rented houses in Bengaluru and Coimbatore, establishing a wider network.
The transportation was handled by drivers Madhan Kumar and Naga Muttu. They would transport the consignments to the Rajanagaram highway junction. From this pivotal point, the cannabis was routed further to destinations in Tamil Nadu and prepared for international smuggling to Sri Lanka. The gang also engaged in retail sales, distributing small packets of cannabis across Tamil Nadu, leveraging Renuka's connections with smugglers based in that state to push larger consignments overseas.
The Police Sting and Seizures
The racket was busted following a specific tip-off. A team led by Inspector Y. Tarakeswara Rao and the Nathavaram sub-inspector intercepted the gang near Srugavaram village. The police operation resulted in a substantial seizure, which included:
- 74 kilograms of dry cannabis
- One car
- Two motorcycles
- Multiple mobile phones
Authorities highlighted that this case appears to mark the first instance where ganja originating from the volatile Andhra-Odisha border region has been intercepted on a smuggling route destined for Sri Lanka, indicating an expansion in the network's reach and ambitions.
The arrest of the Bengaluru-based software engineer underscores the diverse profiles involved in such illicit trades. The police are continuing their investigation to uncover the full extent of this interstate and international drug smuggling network.
