Hyderabad: To evade enforcement authorities in Telangana, ganja transporters from the Andhra Odisha border (AOB) are, in a clandestine manner, using a detour to reach the state. As a result, the cost of the ganja has also shot up.This trend was observed by the enforcement sleuths in the last few months. Earlier, the transporters mainly used two routes: AOB – Alluri Sitharama Raju district in Andhra Pradesh – then entering Telangana from Khammam, Suryapet districts before moving the stock to the concerned destination in the state. The other route is AOB – Rajahmundry – Vijayawada – Suryapet – Hyderabad.
With increased intelligence from the Elite Action Group for Drug Law Enforcement (EAGLE), Hyderabad Narcotics Enforcement Wing (H-NEW) and officials from the bordering districts, ganja peddlers and their transporters are preferring to use a different route. In recent times, after multiple stocks of ganja were seized from the illegal transporters, the accused in their confessions gave the travel trail as AOB – Chhattisgarh – Nagpur – Hyderabad and AOB – Rayalaseema – Bengaluru – Hyderabad. Though the travel distance is higher than the otherwise preferred routes, the smugglers said they were increasingly using Chhattisgarh for transportation.“Ganja transporters are giving preference to change the routes instead of entering Telangana via Andhra Pradesh. This is a reaction to the intensified enforcement,’’ deputy commissioner of police (Task Force) Gaikwad Vaibhav Raghunath told TOI.Police said that the price of ganja has also gone up to ₹50,000 per kg compared to ₹40,000 per kg last year. When the contraband is bought in smaller quantities like 10 grams, it is available for not less than ₹500, going up to ₹1,000 in some places. In Andhra Pradesh, enforcement in the Visakha agency area is being done using satellite images to keep track of the areas of cultivation to crack down on the cultivators.In the last one year, EAGLE sleuths said they have seized 7,000 kg of ganja. Officials said that they are working on intelligence-based enforcement, with specific focus on the Andhra Odisha border.“Acting on precise intelligence provided by EAGLE Force, the Narcotics Control Bureau, Raipur, successfully intercepted and seized 385 kg of ganja near the Chhattisgarh border, preventing the consignment from entering Maharashtra,” EAGLE officials said referring to their operation last month. In Nov 2025, 500 kg of ganja was seized during an inter-state operation in Odisha.
