BENGALURU: In a major crackdown on the drug trafficking network, officials of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) conducted joint operations in Bengaluru and Hyderabad, and seized about 231 kg of amphetamine worth about Rs Rs 45 crore and cash of over Rs Rs 1.23 crore. Three people, including a research scientist and his wife, have been arrested.
The operation was conducted by a joint team of NCB Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Chennai officials. Venkat Rama Rao, a research scientist at a reputed private chemical industry of Bengaluru and a resident of Hebbagodi, his wife and Ravi Shankar Rao, who hails from Hyderabad, were arrested.
The first seizure was made on Friday from Miyapur in Hyderabad and about 221 kg of amphetamine was seized from Venkat Rama Rao and Ravi Shankar Rao. “Venkat Rama Rao had come to Hyderabad to collect the contraband from Ravi Shankar Rao. Both were arrested after necessary examination on Saturday and were remanded to judicial custody on Sunday. Thirty grams of amphetamine and Rs 1,23,32,700 cash were seized from Venkat Rama Rao’s rented house in Hebbagodi near Electronic City in Bengaluru. His wife was also examined and arrested. In a further follow-up, 10 kg of amphetamine was again seized from one of the manufacturing labs located in Bollarum IDA in Hyderabad,” an official said.
“Further investigations are on to find out how exactly the tentacles of this drug network have spread and to arrest the other members of the gang. More people are under the scanner and will be examined soon. The value of seized drugs in the illicit market is worth around Rs 45 crore,” the official said.
