Andhra Pradesh's prohibition and excise sleuths seized 440 kg of dry ganja, valued at Rs 40 lakh and arrested a smuggler transporting the contraband in a van, near Dorala Gottigota area under G Madugula mandal in the Vizag agency today.
According to Deputy Excise Commissioner of Visakhapatnam, M Satyanarayana, the arrested smuggler was identified as M Jeevan, a native of Warangal in Telangana state and the ganja-laden van was heading towards Hyderabad from G Madugula.
The excise officer said that Jeevan, with the support of a few local ganja traders, procured the contraband from parts of G Madugula. The contraband in the van was covered with bags of rice bran to mislead enforcement squads.
Acting on a tip-off, excise sleuths intercepted the vehicle and seized the contraband.
"We are investigating the case to nab some more accused in the trade," the commissioner said.
