UDUPI: Kaup police have arrested two men for allegedly selling ganja to tourists at Yardi Beach in Uliyargoli village and seized 5.710 kg of the contraband, valued at ₹2.85 lakh. Police also recovered ₹225 in cash and two mobile phones during the operation on October 27.
The arrested men have been identified as Aree f (38), a resident of Vinayanagar in Belapu village of Kaup taluk, and Akeef (34), a resident of Hoode in Paduthonse village of Udupi taluk.
Police raid follows specific information
According to police, Kaup Circle Inspector Azmath Ali received credible information about the alleged sale of ganja at Yardi Beach. Acting on the information, a police team conducted a raid at around 12.05 pm on October 27.
During the operation, officers allegedly found the two men in possession of ganja intended for sale. The police seized 5.710 kg of the substance, estimated to be worth ₹2.85 lakh, along with ₹225 in cash and two mobile phones.
The seized mobile phones are expected to form part of the investigation into the alleged drug-selling activity.
Ganja allegedly brought from Hyderabad
During questioning, the accused reportedly told police that they had brought the ganja from Hyderabad for sale. Police also said both men had previously faced criminal cases at different police stations.
These details form part of the police account of the case, and the allegations against the accused remain subject to investigation and judicial proceedings.
The operation was conducted under the guidance of Karkala Sub-Division Assistant Superintendent of Police Ishita Gupta and Kaup Circle Inspector Azmath Ali. Kaup Police Station Sub-Inspector Tejaswi led the raid.
Specialised teams assist operation
Personnel from Kaup police station, the Karkala sub-division Anti-Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Anti-NDPS) team, the Call Detail Records (CDR) technical unit and the Scene of Crime Officers (SOCO) team assisted in the operation.
A case has been registered at Kaup Police Station, and further investigation is under way.
The seizure comes amid continued police action against the alleged sale and distribution of narcotic substances in Udupi district. Police have been conducting operations based on information about suspected drug sales at different locations.
The investigation will seek to establish the source of the seized ganja, the alleged intended buyers and whether the accused were connected to any wider distribution network.