On July 7, 2025, the Elite Action Group for Drug Law Enforcement (EAGLE) and Cyberabad Narcotics Police arrested a 34-year-old hotel entrepreneur in Kompally, unraveling a sophisticated transnational drug trafficking network. The operation led to the seizure of 10 grams of cocaine, 3.2 grams of OG Kush (ganja), and 1.6 grams of ecstasy pills, hidden ingeniously in the heel of women’s footwear sent from New Delhi under the alias “Fatima.”

The accused, a B.Tech and MBA graduate who owns Malnadu Kitchen, admitted to procuring cocaine and MDMA from Indian and Nigerian suppliers operating out of Delhi, Bengaluru, and Goa. Financial transactions, including Rs 1.39 lakh through his hospitality business and Rs 41,000 via ATM, were traced to a Nigerian supplier’s accounts. Drugs were couriered in household items and stored in his car or restaurant for distribution to upscale pubs like Prism Pub and Farm Pub, which are now under scrutiny for enabling discreet drug use.

EAGLE’s investigation, adhering to the NDPS Act, revealed the accused purchased cocaine over 20 times between 2021 and 2025, targeting Hyderabad’s elite social circuits, including techies, doctors, and pub-goers. The operation identified 25 accused, with six arrested and 19 still at large.

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Chennuri Roopesh, SP of EAGLE, emphasized the network’s complexity, involving digital payments and pub-based consumption. The accused has been remanded to judicial custody, with ongoing probes to trace financial flows and the roles of commercial establishments. This bust highlights the growing challenge of urban drug networks leveraging educated individuals and lifestyle venues.

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