Bengaluru, July 7 (IANS) In a major anti-drug crackdown, Bengaluru police have seized more than 35 kg of banned narcotic substances worth around Rs 5.70 crore and arrested 11 alleged drug peddlers, including nine individuals from other states and two local residents.

In an official statement issued on Tuesday, the police said they seized 2 kg of MDMA, 1.767 kg of hydro ganja and 32.920 kg of ganja during the operations. In addition, the police recovered Rs 5.90 lakh in cash, two iPhones and a two-wheeler from the accused.

The operations were carried out within the jurisdiction of the Vidyaranyapura, JB Nagar, Devanahalli and Hebbagodi police stations based on information regarding the sale of banned narcotic substances.

During interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed that they had taken to drug peddling to earn easy money. They told investigators that they procured narcotic substances from suppliers in other states at lower prices and sold them to the public, including college students, at exorbitant rates.

Police said efforts are underway to trace and apprehend the unidentified suppliers who allegedly provided the narcotics to the accused. The investigation is being carried out from all possible angles.

All 11 accused have been produced before the jurisdictional courts and remanded to judicial custody.

According to the statement, the operations were led by Deputy Commissioner of Police (North East) G.K. Mithun Kumar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Vikram Amte and Deputy Commissioner of Police (Electronics City) M. Narayan.

Among the seizures, the Vidyaranyapura police recovered 2 kg of MDMA valued at around Rs 4 crore. The JB Nagar police seized 1.767 kg of hydro ganja, Rs 5.90 lakh in cash, two iPhones and a two-wheeler, with the total value of the seizure estimated at Rs 1.37 crore.

The Devanahalli police seized 16.920 kg of ganja worth approximately Rs 16.70 lakh, while the Hebbagodi police recovered 16 kg of ganja valued at around Rs 16 lakh, the statement added.

In another development, Bengaluru police have arrested a domestic help for theft from the employer and recovered 262 grams of gold jewellery, 2.366 kg of silver biscuits and silver articles, Rs 65,000 cash, and five silk sarees recovered. The total value is assessed to be Rs 50 Lakh.

The complainant, a resident of 5th Block, Jayanagar, approached Jayanagar Police Station on April 9 and lodged a complaint. In the complaint, she stated that she was employed at a hospital located on Bull Temple Road, Basavanagudi. On March 4, she had kept Rs 1,25,000 in cash inside a cupboard in her house to hand over to a priest for a family function.

When she checked the cupboard on the night of March 5, she found that Rs 65,000 was missing. Suspecting theft, she verified her gold jewellery and silver articles and discovered that gold ornaments, silver articles, silver biscuits, and cash had been stolen. She further stated that she suspected her domestic help, who had been working in her house for nearly 18 years. Based on the complaint, a house theft case was registered at Jayanagar Police Station.

During the course of the investigation, the police secured the domestic help on June 22 for questioning. During interrogation, she confessed to having stolen the gold jewellery, silver articles, silver biscuits, and cash from the complainant’s residence. The accused was produced before the court and was remanded to four days of police custody.

During sustained interrogation while in police custody, the accused disclosed that she had concealed the stolen gold jewellery, silver biscuits, silver articles, and cash at her residence in Poorna Prajna Layout.

Based on her voluntary statement, the police recovered 262 grams of gold jewellery, 2.366 kg of silver biscuits and silver articles, Rs 65,000 in cash, and five silk sarees from her residence. The total value of the recovered property is approximately Rs 50 lakh. The operation was carried out under the guidance of K. Vamsi Krishna, Deputy Commissioner of Police, South Division.

–IANS

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