Telangana’s EAGLE Strikes Major Blow to Drug Syndicate: 935 Kg Ganja Worth ₹5 Crore Seized in Interstate Operation
Khammam, July 27, 2025: In one of the biggest anti-narcotics operations of the year, the Telangana government’s newly-formed elite anti-drug force, EAGLE (Elite Action Group for Law Enforcement), has seized a massive 935.611 kilograms of ganja valued at ₹5 crore. The operation, carried out on July 26, marks a significant victory in the state’s ongoing war against drug trafficking and organized crime.
The interception took place at Batasingaram Fruit Market Junction on the Vijayawada National Highway at precisely 3:05 PM, when an EAGLE task force—acting on specific intelligence—intercepted a suspicious convoy comprising a Tata Eicher truck and a Toyota Innova. The search revealed 455 packets of dry ganja stuffed in 35 HDPE bags, cleverly concealed beneath layers of empty plastic fruit trays, indicating a sophisticated attempt to disguise contraband as part of a fruit shipment.
The operation was conducted jointly by EAGLE, RNCC Khammam, and Rachakonda Narcotic Police Station, with technical documentation of the scene carried out by the CLUES Team, ensuring robust evidentiary support.
Crackdown on a Multistate Smuggling Network
According to officials, the seized contraband was being transported from Odisha via Andhra Pradesh en route to Maharashtra, uncovering a well-established interstate drug trafficking network. Three individuals have been apprehended in connection with the case:
- Pawar Kumar Badu – a repeat offender under the NDPS Act and financier of the smuggling operation
- Samadhan Kantilal Bhise – the hired driver of the truck
- Vinayak Baba Saheb Pawar – a logistics assistant who facilitated transportation
All three individuals have reportedly confessed to their roles. However, the main kingpin, identified as Sachin Gangaram Chouhan, is currently absconding. Investigators have also zeroed in on Vicky Seth, a key supplier based in Odisha, who is under active probe.
Clever Tactics & Digital Trails
The EAGLE team revealed that the syndicate used a credit-based model, wherein the supplier sent goods on credit, to be settled post-sale by the buyer, enabling risk-shifting and expansion of the illegal trade. Investigators have also seized six mobile phones with dual IMEIs, believed to contain crucial data relating to the smuggling network’s communications and financial transactions.
All seized material—including the ganja, the vehicles, and the mobile phones—has been secured and documented for forensic analysis.
A case has been formally registered under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985:
- Section 8(c): Prohibition of production, manufacture, possession, sale, etc.
- Section 20(b)(ii)(C): Punishment for possession of commercial quantity of cannabis
- Section 27A: Financing illicit traffic and harboring offenders
- Section 29: Criminal conspiracy
EAGLE: Telangana’s New Vanguard Against Narcotics
The EAGLE task force, the restructured successor of the Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau (TGANB), was established as a dedicated agency to root out the narcotics menace through intelligence-led operations, inter-agency coordination, and digital forensics. This operation is a major testimony to its growing operational capability and its resolve to make Telangana a drug-free state.
Speaking on the operation, EAGLE officials lauded the efforts of the Khammam and Rachakonda units, especially DSP Sridhar, Inspector Vijay, SI Ravi Prasad, and DSP Ramesh, for their meticulous planning and swift execution.
Public Awareness and Appeal
In a public advisory, the Director of EAGLE urged citizens to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious drug-related activities via the toll-free helpline 1908. The agency assured that all informant details would be kept confidential and emphasized the importance of community participation in the fight against narcotics.
With its Zero Tolerance Policy against drug trafficking, EAGLE has positioned itself as a formidable barrier to the growing threat of narcotics in India’s southern corridor. This operation not only dismantles a critical drug supply chain but also sends a strong message to traffickers across the region: Telangana will not tolerate drug crime.
— Issued by the Office of the Director, EAGLE Task Force, Government of Telangana
