Hyderabad: In a major anti-narcotics operation, the Government Railway Police (GRP), Secunderabad, in coordination with the Railway Protection Force (RPF), busted an interstate ganja smuggling racket and arrested a 23-year-old man from Odisha at Charlapally Railway Station.
The accused has been identified as Antaryani Mahananda, a resident of Rourkela, Sundergarh district, Odisha. Police seized 6.096 kg of dry ganja valued at approximately ₹3,04,800. A case has been registered under Crime No. 388/2026 under Section 8(c) read with 20(b)(ii)(B) of the NDPS Act, 1985.
According to the police, the accused worked as a painter in Rourkela but allegedly turned to drug trafficking after learning that ganja could fetch higher profits in Hyderabad. Investigators said he allegedly purchased around 6 kg of ganja from an unidentified person in the Rayagada forest area for ₹5,000 per kg, packed it into two shoulder bags, and boarded the Nagavali Express (Train No. 20809) from Kesinga Railway Station.
On reaching Charlapally Railway Station on July 27, 2026, the accused was reportedly waiting for his cousin when a joint GRP-RPF checking team intercepted and apprehended him during a surprise anti-drug operation. The contraband was seized on the spot.
The operation was carried out by GRP Secunderabad personnel led by B. Saieashwar Goud and SV Subba Reddy, along with their team, in coordination with RPF officers Rakesh Meena, B.N. Singh, and other staff.
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