Meerut/Telangana. A major interstate drug trafficking network linked to Meerut has been exposed after Telangana Police arrested two traffickers with a massive consignment of 437 kilograms of cannabis.
Three other members of the syndicate are currently absconding, with multi-state raids underway to trace them.
Highway Interceptions and Elite Action Group Operations
The operation was carried out by Telangana’s special anti-narcotics unit, the ‘EAGLE Team’ (Elite Action Group for Drug Law Enforcement), on May 16, 2026, along the Vijayawada highway. Acting on specific intelligence inputs, the team intercepted a suspicious XUV vehicle and recovered a large quantity of cannabis during a detailed search. Two suspects, identified as Aman alias Aman and Salim from Meerut, were arrested on the spot, while Amiruddin, Firoz, and Irfan managed to flee.
According to police officials, the syndicate has been active for a long time, transporting cannabis consignments from Odisha to Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and other southern states. The supply chain reportedly extends further into Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Uttarakhand. Investigators said the gang frequently used luxury vehicles to avoid suspicion during transportation across state borders.
Registration Begins for FutureCrime Summit 2026, India’s Largest Cybercrime Conference
Historical Seizures and Network Resurfacing Metrics
The probe has also revealed that this is not the first instance of criminal activity linked to the group. On July 26, 2025, the Meerut SWAT team had earlier arrested three members of the same network—Aman, Arif, and Sajid—with approximately 469 kilograms of cannabis. At that time as well, several accused managed to escape, including Shabram, Vikas Tyagi, Irfan, Pramod, Lal, and Intazar. Following that crackdown, the gang went underground but appears to have resurfaced with renewed activity.
Officials stated that the EAGLE Team was formed in 2025 as a dedicated anti-narcotics task force in Telangana to combat large-scale drug trafficking. The unit operates using advanced surveillance tools and intelligence-driven operations. It also reportedly utilizes an AI-enabled system designed to track drug routes, identify suspects, and analyze trafficking patterns.
Organized Supply Logistics and Forged Documentation
During interrogation, investigators found indications that the network operates in a highly organized manner, with members spread across multiple states. Each consignment is handled through a structured system involving separate drivers, couriers, and forged documentation to avoid detection. Authorities suspect that several other key players are still part of the network and remain unidentified.
Telangana Police has shared details of the case with Meerut Police and is reviewing previous criminal records linked to the accused. Earlier cases, including those registered under the Gangster Act, are also being re-examined to establish deeper connections within the syndicate. Simultaneously, search operations have intensified across western Uttar Pradesh to trace the absconding accused.
Inter-State Coordination and Cartel Profile Mapping
Sources indicate that the EAGLE Team has been stationed in Meerut for the past two days, coordinating with local police to map the entire network. Investigators are compiling data on financial transactions, communication links, and past criminal associations to build a comprehensive profile of the syndicate.
Officials described the group not merely as a smuggling ring but as a large-scale interstate drug cartel with operations spanning multiple states. They added that further arrests are likely as the investigation progresses and the locations of absconding members are continuously being tracked.
Both arrested accused have been sent to judicial custody, while efforts continue to dismantle the entire network and identify all individuals involved in the illegal trade.
