Tirupati district police have arrested three people, including an employee of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), in connection with an alleged MDMA trafficking racket operating in the Tirupati-Renigunta region. During the operation, police seized 62 grams of MDMA, commonly known as meth, with an estimated market value of around ₹3 lakh. The arrests were made as part of an intensified crackdown on narcotics trafficking, with investigators now probing possible links to a larger interstate drug network.
According to police, the arrested individuals have been identified as Rahul Yadav, 30, a Junior Assistant at the Govindaraja Swamy Temple under the TTD, Guna Sekhar, 26, and Ashwin Kumar, 30. In addition to the narcotic substance, officers seized four mobile phones, two digital weighing machines and a Royal Enfield motorcycle allegedly used in the operation. The recovered items have been taken into custody as part of the ongoing investigation.
Police said the arrests stemmed from an operation conducted on July 9 after officers noticed the three men behaving suspiciously in an empty parking area near Renigunta Railway Station. A search of the suspects allegedly led to the recovery of the MDMA from their possession. The accused were immediately taken into custody and questioned regarding the source and intended distribution of the seized drugs.
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During interrogation, the accused allegedly disclosed that they procured the MDMA from Bengaluru before transporting it to Tirupati. Investigators claim the drugs were repackaged into smaller quantities and sold to customers across the Tirupati-Renigunta region to maximise profits. Police are now examining the seized mobile phones to identify the Bengaluru-based supplier and trace others who may be involved in the suspected interstate drug distribution network.
A case has been registered against the three accused under the relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. Following their arrest, they were produced before a competent court and remanded to judicial custody. Investigators said further inquiries are underway to establish the full extent of the alleged drug trafficking operation and identify any additional individuals connected to the network.
Tirupati District Superintendent of Police L. Subbarayudu urged members of the public to cooperate with law enforcement agencies by reporting any information related to the sale, trafficking or consumption of narcotic substances. He assured citizens that the identities of informants would be kept strictly confidential. Police said the investigation remains active and that further action will be taken based on evidence gathered during the ongoing probe.
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