Hyderabad Police Crack Down on International Drug Trafficking Network
In a significant crackdown on narcotics trafficking, Hyderabad police have arrested five drug peddlers, including two foreign nationals, in two separate operations conducted on Tuesday. The coordinated efforts led to the seizure of 160 grams of MDMA, with an estimated street value of Rs 25 lakh, highlighting the ongoing battle against drug-related crimes in the city.
First Operation: Rajendranagar Police Nab Foreign Nationals
The Rajendranagar police, in collaboration with the Hyderabad Narcotic Enforcement Wing (H-NEW), intercepted two individuals in Mailardevpally on Tuesday evening. The arrested include Al-Aqar Abdurabu Mohammed Abdurabu, a 37-year-old Yemeni national residing in Tolichowki, and Hasan W A Hashem, a 28-year-old Palestinian national based in Bengaluru. From this duo, authorities confiscated 150 grams of MDMA, along with a knife and four mobile phones.
According to Rajendranagar DCP S Srinivas, Abdurabu has been living intermittently in India since 2008 on student visas and allegedly sourced drugs from an absconding Nigerian supplier operating from Bengaluru. His criminal history includes being booked in six cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in Telangana and Karnataka since 2019, with a non-bailable warrant pending against him in one of these cases.
Hashem arrived in India in 2016 on a student visa, returned to his home country during the pandemic, and re-entered in 2022 on a business visa. He reportedly ventured into drug peddling through a Sudanese national and was previously arrested by Bengaluru police in 2022 for MDMA trafficking. Police investigations reveal that Hashem and Abdurabu met during judicial custody in Bengaluru in 2022, after which Hashem began assisting Abdurabu by collecting drug consignments in Bengaluru and delivering them to customers in both Hyderabad and Bengaluru. Both have been charged under the NDPS Act and Section 14 of the Foreigners Act.
Second Operation: Miyapur Police Arrest Local Trio
In a parallel operation, the Miyapur Police, aided by the Madhapur Special Operations Team (SOT), arrested three individuals: B Hanumanthu (27), B Mahesh (26), and K Adarsh (28), all residents of Miyapur. The arrests occurred near Vishwambara Colony Park on Tuesday evening after police intercepted their car. Despite attempts to flee, the trio was apprehended.
During the raid, police seized 12.6 grams of MDMA concealed in a zip-lock pouch, four mobile phones, and the vehicle used in the operation. The accused confessed to obtaining the contraband from an unknown supplier in Bengaluru for resale in Hyderabad. They have been booked under the NDPS Act.
Judicial Proceedings and Broader Implications
All five accused were produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody on Wednesday. These arrests underscore the interconnected nature of drug trafficking networks, linking international operatives with local peddlers. The operations highlight the proactive measures by Hyderabad police to combat the influx of narcotics into the city, particularly through routes from Bengaluru.
The cases reveal a pattern of exploitation of visa systems by foreign nationals involved in criminal activities, prompting authorities to enhance surveillance and enforcement. With drug abuse posing a significant public health threat, such crackdowns are crucial in disrupting supply chains and safeguarding communities.
As investigations continue, police are pursuing leads on the absconding suppliers and other potential associates. The successful operations serve as a stern warning to drug traffickers and reinforce the commitment of law enforcement agencies to maintain law and order in Hyderabad.
