Drug racket busted in Hyderabad, two Africans held

Hyderabad, Jan 30 (IANS) Police in Hyderabad on Monday busted a drug racket with the arrest of six persons including two Africans.

The arrests were made in posh Jubilee Hills area in a joint operation by personnel from the local police station and the Commissioner's Task Force.

Police seized 370 grams of cocaine worth Rs 17 lakh, which the accused were carrying to deliver to their customers. They also seized Rs 46,000 in cash, a Ford car, a motorcycle and 12 cell phones from their possession.

The arrested men include 38-year-old Mandela James of South Africa and 27-year-old Drake Owen, a national of Ghana. Both were drug peddlers who were supplying drugs from Mumbai.

The other arrested include two consumers. They have been identified as Abhishek Kumar, an artist and G.Srinivasulu, both residents of Hitec City here.

J.E. Naveen Kumar and M. Srinivas, both natives of Karnataka and employed here, were also arrested for selling drugs.

According to B. Limba Reddy, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Commissioner's Task Force, the African nationals were in India on business visas and were supplying drugs from Mumbai to both the sellers and consumers.

Mandela James, said to be the kingpin of the racket, had engaged Drake Owen and the two were selling cocaine to their customers in Hyderabad.

The arrests were made when the Africans reached Jubilee Hills checkpost on Monday to deliver cocaine to Abhishek and Srinivasulu.