Hyderabad Drug Bust: Hyderabad’s drug enforcement officials have uncovered a secret ganja distribution network in Gachibowli, where the supplier used coded WhatsApp messages to alert regular buyers. The crackdown, led by the newly formed Elite Action Group for Drug Law Enforcement (EAGLE), revealed that more than 100 consumers were part of this network, many of them working in the city’s IT and private sectors.

During an operation on Saturday, EAGLE officers posed as civilians near a bank — a known meeting point for the deals. Within just two hours, they apprehended 14 individuals attempting to purchase ganja. All of them tested positive for cannabis use and were referred to certified de-addiction centres.

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Officials said the main suspect, identified as Sandeep from Maharashtra, is a repeat offender who managed to escape. He was known to carry nearly 5 kg of ganja at a time, divided into 100 packets of 50 grams each. Each packet was sold for Rs 3,000. What made his operation harder to trace was the use of coded messages like “Bhai baccha aa gaya bhai” on WhatsApp, signalling that the drug consignment had arrived.

Investigators discovered a customer database on Sandeep’s phone with over 100 regular buyers. Among those caught during the operation were an IT employee, an architect, a student, an online trader and a sales executive. In one shocking case, a man brought his wife and 4-year-old child along to buy ganja. While the mother and child were allowed to leave, the man tested positive for cannabis use. In another instance, both members of a couple tested positive.

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EAGLE’s Superintendent of Police, Chennuri Roopesh, confirmed that digital evidence, including WhatsApp chats and call logs, is being analysed to track the supply chain. He urged the remaining individuals listed in the suspect’s database to voluntarily seek treatment before action is taken against them.

The unit also appealed to parents to stay vigilant and encouraged the public to report drug-related activity through the police helpline or EAGLE’s toll-free number 1908. Regular surveillance will continue to keep the IT corridor free from narcotics.