Three people, including a US citizen residing in Banjara Hills were arrested by the excise officials.
| Photo Credit: By Arrangement
Eight individuals, including a United States citizen, were arrested for drug trade during a series of operations carried out by Telangana Prohibition and Excise department’s State Task Force (STF) teams across Hyderabad. More than 41 grams of cocaine and MDMA were seized along with vehicles and mobile phones used in the offences.
In the first operation on Saturday (August 23, 2025), the STF-A team raided the vicinity of Vardhaman Bank, Ramkoti, Abids, and seized 33.3 grams of cocaine. Three men, 35-year-old Misbahuddin Khan of Nampally; 28-year-old Ali Asgar Gulabi of Banjara Hills; and 35-year-old Zubair Ali, a US citizen residing in Banjara Hills, were arrested, while the supplier, Mohammed Azeem of Bangalore, remains absconding.
An SUV and four mobile phones were also seized. Officials said the accused had been sourcing cocaine from Azeem in Bangalore at ₹9,000 per gram, transporting it to Hyderabad for local customers. Investigation also revealed that Zubair Ali came to Hyderabad a month and a half ago and accompanied the duo to Bengaluru and provided his car for transportation.
In a second raid, carried out in the early hours of Sunday at Khajaguda in Serilingampally, the STF-B team seized 2.07 grams of MDMA. Three accused, identified as Nagulla Saipavan, Devetta Manoj Chandra and Medaramettla Srivardhan, were arrested. Two scooters and three mobile phones were seized. Another suspect, Ali alias Pavan, the peddler, remains absconding.
Later, in Shamshabad, the STF-C team seized 5.88 grams of MDMA and arrested two daily wage workers identified as 20-year-old Mirza Saif Ali of Qayam Nagar, and 35-year-old Abdul Obaid of Attapur. A two-wheeler and a mobile phone were also confiscated. Efforts are underway to trace the third suspect, 32-year-old Syed Abul Hassan of Bahadurpura, is absconding.
Excise officials said the arrested men, along with the seized contraband, vehicles and case documents, have been handed over to the respective excise stations for further investigation.
Published – August 25, 2025 11:57 am IST
