Hyderabad, February 16: What appeared routine on the surface – a biscuit wrapper, a bike taxi ride and a parcel sent in a private bus – turned out to be parts of a cocaine supply network that operated between Bengaluru and Hyderabad until it was busted by the EAGLE Force.
The EAGLE Force, Telangana, in coordination with Gachibowli Police of the Cyberabad Commissionerate, arrested an interstate drug peddler and two of his associates in a joint operation in Kondapur on Sunday. A total of 32 grams of cocaine was seized during the raid at Venkataramana Residency .
The main accused has been identified as Vegesna Murali Krishnam Raju, 24, a native of West Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh and currently residing in Kondapur. His associates, Bhupathiraju Chiranjeevi Varma, 28, a private employee from KPHB, and Rudraraju Hemanth Raju, 37, a businessman from Vijayawada, were also apprehended .
From Addiction to Peddling
According to police, Murali discontinued his engineering studies due to financial difficulties and later took up part-time jobs in Uttarakhand, Pune and Goa. During this period, he developed an addiction to drugs. To fund his lifestyle, he allegedly began peddling cocaine and gradually turned into a regular supplier .
Initially, he sourced cocaine locally in Hyderabad for ₹10,000 per gram and sold it for ₹11,000. After his local supplier was arrested, he allegedly shifted to sourcing from a Nigerian national based in Goa and another peddler in Bengaluru. Investigators said he was procuring cocaine at ₹7,000 per gram and selling it at ₹12,000 per gram .
“Dead Drop” Network and Online Payments
Police said the accused operated cautiously, communicating with customers only through WhatsApp over Wi-Fi and using a “dead drop” method for delivery. Payments were routed through online transfers into the bank accounts of friends, who would then pass on the money to him .
A Bengaluru-based associate, identified as Tejas, allegedly helped procure cocaine and transport it to Hyderabad through private travel buses operating between Bengaluru and Hyderabad .
Investigators also named a private bus operator and its driver, as well as a Rapido driver who allegedly transported the consignment from the bus to the accused, as accused in the case .
Associates and Consumers Identified
Chiranjeevi Varma is accused of purchasing cocaine from Murali and sharing his contact details with other potential buyers. Hemanth Raju, a cousin of the main accused, had recently begun consuming cocaine, police said .
All three arrested individuals tested positive for cocaine consumption. Police have identified 15 consumers linked to the case and said further action will be taken against others involved .
Public Advisory
The EAGLE Force warned private transport operators against facilitating illegal parcel movement and urged the public to report information related to drug sale or consumption. Officials assured that informants’ identities would be kept confidential and suitable rewards would be offered .
The post Dark Fantasy wrapper, Rapido ride and private bus: Engineering dropout ran cocaine chain before EAGLE bust appeared first on Telugu360.
Dark Fantasy wrapper, Rapido ride and private bus: Engineering dropout ran cocaine chain before EAGLE bust
