Telangana: Contraband worth Rs 20 lakh seized in Kandukur; one arrested

HYDERABAD: Rachakonda Police of Telangana capital Hyderabad seized 390kg of poppy worth Rs 20 lakh from Lemur village in Kandukur that falls in Ranga Reddy district.
Police arrested D Chennakeshavaulu (45) —from Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh — for illegal cultivation of poppy.
During interrogation, Chennakeshavulu said that poppy seeds were supplied to him by one D Venkataramana (43) of Chittoor district in Andhra Pradesh.
The commissioner said that drug peddlers manufacture heroin by processing opium
"Chennakeshavulu and Venkataramama were planning to sell the contraband to customers on the outskirts of Bangalore," Rachakonda commissioner Mahesh Bhagawat said.
Venkataramama was recently arrested by the Special Enforcement Bureau of Chittoor district under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
Police arrested two people for illegal cultivation of poppy.
Chennakeshavulu told police that he leased agricultural land belonging to one Buchi Reddy at Lemur village and started cultivating poppy three months ago on the instructions of Venkataramama.
The commissioner said that drug peddlers manufacture heroin by processing opium, adding "cultivation of poppy is prohibited in Telangana".
"We have booked a case against the accused under Section 8(b) R/W 18(b) of the NDPS ACT-1985," he said.
"We will initiate proceedings against the accused under the Preventive Detention Act and request for a trial in a fast-track court," he added.
"If convicted, the accused will be imprisoned for up to 10 years and would be fined Rs 1 lakh."
The accused, along with the seized contraband, was produced before the court and sent to the judicial remand.