Hyderabad: In a major MDMA peddlers arrest, Hyderabad City Police’s Narcotics Enforcement Wing carried out a joint operation with Masab Tank police and arrested three local drug peddlers, seizing contraband and assets worth ₹4.65 lakh, officials said.
Police identified the prime accused as Upputuri Kartheek alias Alex, 37, a resident of Pernametta village in Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh. The other accused were Chirumamilla Balaji, 32, of Neredmet in Malkajgiri, and Tandra Deepak, 29, of Jeedimetla village in Medchal district.
During the MDMA peddlers arrest operation on December 12, police seized 11 grams of MDMA, three mobile phones, a two-wheeler bearing registration number TS08JH1844 and a four-wheeler with registration number TS09FB5191.
Investigators said Kartheek procured MDMA from absconding suppliers in Bengaluru and transported it to Hyderabad. He allegedly repacked the drug into one-gram sachets and sold them for profit across the city. Police said Balaji sourced MDMA from Kartheek and resold it to consumers. Deepak later joined as a sub-peddler after initially consuming the drug.
MDMA peddlers arrest exposes city-level drug network
According to police, financial stress pushed Kartheek into drug trafficking after business failures. Balaji, who had earlier faced an NDPS case at Amberpet police station, resumed MDMA peddling to fund an expensive lifestyle. Deepak allegedly sold the drug to known users to earn quick money.
Police booked the case as Crime No. 317/2025 at Masab Tank police station under Sections 8(c), 22(c) and 27(a) of the NDPS Act, read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Following the MDMA peddlers arrest, Hyderabad Narcotics Enforcement Wing appealed to the public to stay away from substance abuse. Officials warned that drug addiction increasingly affected educated youth and families.
Police urged citizens to share information related to drug abuse by contacting HNEW at 8712661601. They said public cooperation was key to building a drug-free Hyderabad.
The arrests were carried out by Inspector S. Bala Swamy and Sub-Inspector B. Manoj Kumar of HNEW, along with Detective Inspector P. Srinivas Rao and staff of Masab Tank police station.
