Hyderabad: Former Software Engineer Arrested for Terrace Cannabis Cultivation; NCB Busts Illegal Alprazolam Unit

Excise officials in Hyderabad arrested a former software engineer for cultivating cannabis plants on his terrace. Investigators linked the case to substance dependency and job loss. In a separate incident, two engineering students were apprehended for allegedly selling ganja in the city. These arrests highlight a growing trend of small-scale drug cultivation and local sales tied to personal issues.

A 37-year-old software engineer in Hyderabad was arrested on Tuesday after excise officials found cannabis plants growing on the terrace of his house in East Gandhinagar, Nacharam. Authorities said the man had allegedly lost his job due to substance addiction and later began cultivating ganja at home, while a separate raid led to the arrest of two BTech students in Medipally for selling the drug, a TOI report stated.

Acting on specific information, the Ranga Reddy Enforcement 'A' team raided the residence and took Ch Shashidhar into custody. Officials said they seized 17 ganja plants from the terrace. The plants had grown as tall as three metres, and some had already started flowering. Based on their condition, officials estimated that the total yield could have been around 10 kilograms.

Excise officials said Shashidhar was addicted to both ganja and alcohol and had been spending a significant portion of his income on procuring the substance. "He started spending most of what he earned to procure the contraband and was eventually terminated from his job. To cater to his personal needs after the loss of employment, he began growing ganja plants on the terrace of his house," an excise official said.

Investigators said the accused initially depended on external sources for ganja before shifting to self-cultivation. Ghatkesar excise sub-inspector Sangeetha Reddy said: "He would extract the seeds from ganja he used to buy and began growing the contraband on his terrace." After the arrest, Shashidhar was handed over to officials at the Ghatkesar excise station for further legal proceedings.

In a related operation, the same excise team arrested two BTech students in Medipally for allegedly selling ganja. The accused, identified as Bandi Arun Kumar and B Ashish, were found with 480 grams of the substance. Both were also handed over to Ghatkesar excise officials for further action.

In another case, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has busted an alleged illegal drug manufacturing unit in Hyderabad, arresting three people and seizing 69.6 kg of Alprazolam along with raw materials linked to Ephedrine production. Officials said the total value of the seized contraband is estimated at ₹17.40 crore, while additional raw materials worth around ₹20 lakh were also recovered.

Acting on specific intelligence, officers from the NCB Hyderabad Zonal Unit carried out a search at an industrial chemical facility in IDA Moula Ali on April 20. During the operation, three individuals were apprehended, according to an official release.

A search of the premises led to the discovery of two drums containing powder. The accused allegedly identified the substance as Alprazolam, which they claimed was being manufactured illegally at the facility. Officials confirmed that a total of 69.6 kg of Alprazolam was seized from the drums under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

During questioning, investigators found that one of the accused had sourced chemicals and solvents in bulk without a licence. These materials were allegedly intended for the illegal production of another drug, Ephedrine, at the same site. The NCB said it also seized raw materials used in the manufacture of Alprazolam, along with chemicals meant for Ephedrine production. According to the agency, the three arrested individuals include a chemist, a raw material supplier, and a receiver, indicating a coordinated operation.

Preliminary investigation suggested that the seized Alprazolam was meant to be distributed to toddy shops in Telangana, where demand typically rises during the summer season. Officials said further investigation is underway to trace the network and identify other possible links connected to the operation.