The Telangana EAGLE Force and Malkajgiri Narcotics Police have busted an inter-State marijuana smuggling network and seized 237 kg of the contraband, worth ₹1.18 crore, from a lorry container on the Vijayawada-Mumbai highway.Two persons, identified as lorry owner-cum-driver Rajesh Kumar, 33, and labourer Anil Ranganath Bichare, 35, were arrested during the operation near a function hall on National Highway-65.According to the police, Rajesh, a native of Bihar, who had moved to Mumbai in 2015, came in contact with Pune-based alleged peddlers Suresh Kedari and Dharam Shindey around seven months ago. The duo allegedly offered him financial assistance to purchase a second-hand lorry container in return for transporting marijuana from Odisha to Pune and Mumbai.Rajesh allegedly bought the container four months ago and received ₹3 lakh from the duo. Police said Anil had been assisting Kedari and Shindey in transporting marijuana from Odisha for the past two years.On July 7, Kedari and Shindey allegedly gave Rajesh ₹1.5 lakh, including ₹70,000 as commission and ₹80,000 for travel expenses, and instructed him to meet Odisha-based supplier Pabitra Kumar Sabar alias Pitambar Sabar in Vijayawada. Anil accompanied him.The duo reached Vijayawada on July 11 and, after unloading PVC pipes at the airport, they allegedly travelled with Sabar to Gunpur in Rayagada district of Odisha. After waiting there for two days, they were allegedly asked to return to Visakhapatnam and wait.On the night of July 14, Sabar allegedly handed over 10 gunny bags containing 237 kg of marijuana to the duo. While the two were returning to Pune through Hyderabad, the EAGLE Force and Rachakonda Narcotics Police intercepted the container.Police said the accused initially gave a false account of their movements and claimed they had only travelled to Visakhapatnam. However, analysis of their call detail records showed that they had travelled to Gunpur in Odisha. When confronted with the discrepancies, the two allegedly disclosed that marijuana had been concealed in the cabin of the container.The police have launched a hunt for Kedari and Shindey, the alleged financiers and peddlers, and Sabar, the alleged supplier. A case has been registered at the Malkajgiri Narcotics Police Station and further investigation is underway. Published - July 16, 2026 08:19 pm IST