Hyderabad drug bust exposes IT professionals, parents with child in ganja sting

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In a startling revelation during a drug bust in Hyderabad’s upscale Gachibowli area, officials discovered a couple attempting to purchase ganja with their four-year-old child in tow. The operation, led by the Elite Action Group for Drug Law Enforcement (EAGLE), resulted in 14 arrests, including IT professionals and other white-collar workers, NDTV reported.

The father tested positive for cannabis use, while his wife and child were allowed to leave. In another case, a second couple, both of whom tested positive for ganja consumption, were also detained.

Acting on intelligence about a repeat offender, Sandeep from Maharashtra, EAGLE officers set up surveillance near a local bank, a known exchange spot. Within two hours, they apprehended 14 individuals, all of whom tested positive for cannabis in on-the-spot urine tests.

Sandeep, who remains at large, allegedly sold ganja in 50-gram packets for Rs 3,000 each. According to NDTV, he maintained a database of over 100 regular customers, using coded WhatsApp messages like "Bhai baccha aa gaya bhai" to signal fresh stock arrivals.??Among those caught were an architect, a real estate sales executive, an IT employee, an online trader and a student. All have been referred to certified de-addiction centres.

EAGLE Superintendent of Police Chennuri Roopesh was quoted by NDTV as saying that investigators are analysing seized phones, WhatsApp logs and Sandeep’s customer database to dismantle the supply chain. "We urge the remaining 86 individuals in the database to voluntarily seek treatment before EAGLE takes further action," he said.

The unit has vowed to intensify operations in Hyderabad’s IT corridor, warning of rising drug-linked crimes. Authorities have urged parents to monitor their children’s activities and encouraged tip-offs via EAGLE’s toll-free helpline (1908).