Hyderabad police bust drug network; woman techie, her boyfriend among 4 held

The woman has been identified as Sushmitha Devi, also known as Lilly, aged 21. The other accused are Ummidi Immanuel (25), G Sai Kumar (28), and Taraka Laxmikanth Ayyappa (24). (Photo: X/@hydcitypolice)

A 21-year-old software engineer, her partner, and two other men were arrested in Hyderabad for their alleged involvement in a drug distribution network. Police seized a large quantity of narcotics during a raid, including cannabis, LSD, and ecstasy pills, NDTV reported.

The woman has been identified as Sushmitha Devi, also known as Lilly, aged 21. The other accused are Ummidi Immanuel (25), G Sai Kumar (28), and Taraka Laxmikanth Ayyappa (24).

Immanuel, an event manager by profession and Lilly’s boyfriend, is the prime accused in the Chikkadpally drug case. According to the Hyderabad Narcotics Enforcement Wing and local police, the couple allegedly operated the drug network together.

The seized contraband included 22 grams of hydroponic ganja, five grams of MDMA, six LSD blotters, and ecstasy tablets, with an estimated street value of around ₹3 lakh. Police also recovered ₹50,000 in cash and four mobile phones from the accused.

Investigators found that Immanuel allegedly procured drugs from various suppliers, including sources on the dark web, using tools such as the Tor browser. Payments were reportedly made through cryptocurrency wallets like Binance and Trust Wallet to avoid detection.

Police said Lilly played a key role in managing the financial aspects of the operation. She allegedly handled online payments and supervised drug distribution when Immanuel was unavailable.

Sai Kumar, who worked as a delivery rider, is accused of assisting with local distribution by acting as a transporter and dealer. Ayyappa, the fourth accused, is believed to be a consumer of the drugs.

Cases have been registered under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Further investigation is ongoing to identify additional links in the network.