Two Businessmen Held, Cocaine in the Name of Face Masks

Hyderabad: Two businessmen, who secured an inter-State travel pass from the City Police on the pretext of selling face masks, were arrested by the Prohibition and Excise department here on Tuesday on charges of smuggling cocaine into the city from Bengaluru.

An excise team led by Assistant Excise Superintendent (Enforcement) N. Anji Reddy intercepted a car at Saraswathi Nagar in Trimulgherry and seized 54 grams of cocaine from the possession of Taran Jyoth Singh of Punjagutta and Amith Kumar of Saraswathi Nagar in Lothkunta.

Singh owned an electronics showroom while Kumar was running a manpower consultancy in Malakpet. They went to Bengaluru after securing an inter-State travel pass from the City Police Commissioner’s office in Basheerbagh saying they were going to Bengaluru in connection with sale of face masks.

They purchased 70 grams of cocaine from a Nigerian at Bengaluru and returned to the city on May 30. Based on a tip-off, the Excise enforcement team intercepted the car and arrested the duo. The car was also seized.