Andhra Pradesh: Ganja smuggler held, 120 kg contraband seized

Police on Friday arrested notorious ganja smuggler Appilisetti Ramana and seized 120kg of the contraband near here. The accused was apprehended at Bena Bhupala Patnam in the district when he was transporting the contraband, police said, adding that 120 kg of dry ganja was seized from him.

Ramana (48), who had earned crores of rupees in the illegal drug trade, had purchased land in and around Bena Bhupala Patnam, police said.

He was arrested on several occasions for smuggling. In 2008, he was sent to prison for a year by Visakhapatnam Rural police under the AP Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Drug Offenders Act, 1986 but he went back to the drug trade after being released, police said, adding that he supplied the contraband to Hyderabad, Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam.

Kothakota police station Inspector H Malleswara Rao said after the arrest, they raided the house of Ramana and seized land documents and a few other items.