A drug peddler was nabbed in a joint operation by the Shamshabad Special Operations Team (SOT) and Shadnagar police on Friday (May 30) and a range of drugs worth ₹3.05 crore were seized from him.
The accused was identified as 26-year-old Vikas Sohu, a native of Nagaur district of Rajasthan. He was arrested at Sanju Bhai Marwadi Dhaba near the Raikal toll gate on the Hyderabad-Bengaluru highway, where he worked as a cook. Among the seized drugs were 1.5 kilogram of heroin, 632 grams of opium, 2.8 kilogram of poppy straw, 1 kilogram of dry ganja, ₹89,700 in cash, a digital weighing machine, poly covers, and three smartphones.
Investigation revealed that Vikas had been living and working at the dhaba since 2019. Initially employed as a watchman, he eventually learned to cook and took up the role of a cooking master. However, behind this seemingly ordinary facade, Vikas was deeply involved in narcotics distribution. His employer, Sanju Bhai, who passed away last month due to illness, was known to consume and sell ganja to passing lorry drivers and pedestrians. He sourced the contraband from a supplier named Salim from Dhoolpet, with assistance from Vikas.
Both Vikas and Sanju were arrested by the Jadcherla police in 2022 for selling ganja near the bus stand there. However, they resumed their activities following their release.
In recent years, they expanded their network, another supplier, Raju from Jalpally in Maheshwaram, provided ganja and Ganpath from Madhya Pradesh became the source for heroin, opium and poppy straw.
Following the death of Sanju Bhai on April 28, 2025, Vikas continued the illegal trade independently. Just last week, he reportedly procured 1.5 kilogram of heroin, 750 grams of opium, 3.5 kilogram of poppy straw, and 1.5 kilogram of ganja, of which he managed to sell a portion before being caught. Investigation is under way.
Published – May 30, 2025 08:49 pm IST
