Asifabad: Telangana Police have arrested a father and son for allegedly cultivating cannabis on a large scale as an intercrop in a 10-acre cotton field at Nagolkonda village under the Jainoor police station limits.
Police seized 1,245 cannabis plants along with their roots from the farmland. The estimated value of the crop is around ₹1.50 crore. Officers also recovered 11 grams of dried cannabis during the operation.
Cannabis cultivation detected after tip-off
According to police, information about the alleged illegal cultivation was received on September 13. Acting on the information, police began checking vehicles near Patnapur Main Road.
During the checks, officers intercepted Ambure Pundalik, 50. Police allegedly found 11 grams of dried cannabis concealed inside a towel in his possession. The substance was seized in the presence of government witnesses.
The subsequent investigation led police to the 10-acre cotton field at Nagolkonda village, where Pundalik and his son, Ambure Ramesh, were allegedly cultivating cannabis between the cotton plants.
An Agricultural Extension Officer and government witnesses accompanied the police team during the inspection of the farmland.
1,245 plants uprooted and seized
Police teams conducted an extensive search of the agricultural land and identified 1,245 cannabis plants. The plants were uprooted along with their roots and taken into custody as part of the investigation.
Officials said the operation took more than 10 hours because of the difficult valley terrain in the area. After the plants were counted and uprooted, they were seized by the police.
The father and son were subsequently arrested in connection with the alleged illegal cultivation.
Police probe seed source and marketing network
Superintendent of Police Nitika Pant said the investigation is now focused on identifying others who may be connected with the cultivation operation.
“We are focusing on identifying the masterminds behind the cultivation, including the source of the seeds and the marketing channels,” Pant said.
Police are therefore examining how the cannabis seeds were procured, whether other people were involved in cultivating the crop and how the produce was allegedly intended to be distributed or sold.
The investigation could also establish whether the seized farmland was being used for cannabis cultivation on previous occasions and whether the accused were connected to a larger network operating in the region.
Asifabad’s location raises interstate concerns
Asifabad is located in a forested and predominantly tribal belt and shares borders with Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh. The region also has interstate connectivity through National Highway 44.
Its geographical location and connectivity have been among the factors considered by law enforcement agencies while investigating the movement of illegal substances through the area.
The latest seizure involved cannabis allegedly cultivated locally rather than merely transported through the district. Police are continuing their investigation to determine the wider network, if any, behind the cultivation and alleged distribution of the crop.
The seizure of 1,245 plants, estimated by officials at around ₹1.50 crore, is among the significant cannabis cultivation cases detected in the area, while the investigation into the source of the seeds and potential marketing channels remains underway.