Man arrested with 12 kg marijuana planned to sell for girlfriend's iPhone gift

A 21-year-old man arrested for transporting 12 kg of marijuana told police he planned to sell the contraband to buy an iPhone as a birthday gift for his girlfriend.

EAGLE Force personnel arrested Mitra Chaitanya and his 20-year-old girlfriend Hemalatha, both from Peddapalli, with marijuana worth ₹6 lakh while they were transporting it from Odisha to Hyderabad.

Five-day procurement trip

The couple travelled to Pasupulanka in Odisha and stayed there for about five days to procure the marijuana. They bought 12 kg from one Bhagavan Hantal for ₹16,000 and began their journey back to Hyderabad. According to the police, they travelled through Darakonda, Gurtedu, Maredumilli, Rajahmundry and Sathupalli before reaching Wyra.

Chase ends in injuries

EAGLE Force personnel, in coordination with Wyra police, tried to intercept the duo near Wyra Ring Centre. The couple attempted to evade the police and rammed their motorcycle into the police personnel and a police vehicle, injuring a Sub-Inspector from Wyra police. Both accused also sustained injuries after falling from the motorcycle.

The police apprehended them and recovered 12 kg of marijuana, a Pulsar motorcycle and four mobile phones.

Three-member receiving network

During the investigation, police found that Shashi of Karimnagar and MD Nagul, 25, an auto driver from Subhash Nagar in Peddapalli, had agreed to receive the marijuana and sell it in Hyderabad. Both are absconding. Bhagavan Hantal, who supplied the contraband, is also absconding.

Police said Chaitanya had three previous cases under the NDPS Act. The cases were registered at Peddapalli police station, Prohibition and Excise police station, Uppal, and Medchal police station. He was released from jail on April 30, 2026.

Efforts are on to apprehend the absconding accused and identify others involved in the procurement, transportation and distribution network.

Source: The Hindu