Kadapa (AP), Jan 23 (PTI) Five alleged drug smugglers were today arrested from a village in the district and one kilo of brown sugar was seized from them, police said.
"The five-member team headed by Mada Prasad (28) from Ontimitta in Kadapa district, was arrested near Sanipai village here," Kadapa central crime Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Nageswar Reddy told reporters.
The other four accused were identified as Kurikalgattu Mohideen (40), Parevengala Ajubu (34) both from Kerala, S K Rahamtulla (34) of Ontimitta and Shaik Masthan Valli (45) of T Sundupalli mandal, he said.
"The accused were found transporting brown sugar in five bags," police said.
Acting on a tip-off, police had kept a watch on the accused for the last five days and finally nabbed them, the DSP said.
"These smugglers used to rope in poor people, who are going to Kuwait for livelihood and ask them to transport the drug packets in lieu of good money. After reaching Kuwait, their henchmen used to collect the packets from the passengers," he said.
The gang members have admitted that so far they had exported drugs four times to Kuwait and Qatar.
The DSP said that Bhasker alias Chotu, a native of Rajampeta and presently living in Kuwait, is the kingpin of the smuggling racket.
"Bhasker imports the drugs from Afghanistan and exports to Arabian countries through his operatives," he added.
Further investigation into the case is on.
