Hyderabad: In a major crackdown on narcotics trafficking and consumption among urban social circuits, the Elite Action Group for Drug Law Enforcement (EAGLE) unit with the assistance of Cyberabad narcotics police station, arrested a key peddler and consumer, Surya Annamaneni. Thirty-four-year-old Surya was a well-educated hotel entrepreneur and resident of Kompally. The arrest, which took place on the evening of July 7 has unraveled a deep-rooted, transnational drug network involving international suppliers, pub-based consumers, courier delivery of narcotics, and digital financial transactions, EAGLE said in a press release. Based on specific intelligence inputs, a team from Cyberabad narcotics police station intercepted Surya near his restaurant in Kompally. He was travelling in a SUV, which, upon search, revealed concealed narcotics. According to EAGLE, the conceal narcotics include 10 grams of cocaine, 3.2 grams of OG Kush, and 1.6 grams of ecstasy pills. The cocaine was hidden ingeniously in the heel compartment of a ladies’ chappal, packed inside a pink cardboard box, and sent through a courier from New Delhi under the alias sender “Fatima”. This method of concealment demonstrates a growing sophistication in narcotics logistics aimed at bypassing routine checks. During interrogation, Surya revealed startling insights into the scale and sophistication of his operations. A B.Tech and MBA graduate from reputed institutions, Surya had worked as a sales manager in Bengaluru before returning to Hyderabad in 2020 to open his restaurant. He soon reconnected with college and family contacts involved in drug consumption and trafficking. What began as recreational use quickly turned into an entrenched cycle of procurement, distribution, and high-volume sales. EAGLE said Surya’s primary suppliers included both Indian contacts as well as a network of Nigerian drug traffickers operating from Delhi, Bangalore, and Goa – namely Nick, Jerry, Dezmond, Stanley, and Prince. Surya admitted to placing regular orders for cocaine and MDMA with Nigerian national Nick, whose bank accounts in Canara bank and HDFC bank were used to receive payments. The accused made large-scale transfers Rs.1.39 lakh through ternion hospitality and another Rs.41,000 via ATM to these accounts recently. In return, cocaine and MDMA were dispatched via courier services, cleverly hidden in household items. The drugs were then stored in Surya’s car or restaurant premises for onward supply to consumers. Surya confessed that he had purchased cocaine over 20 times between 2021 and 2025, often consuming it at upscale pubs in Hyderabad such as Prism Pub, Farm Pub, Block 22, Bird Box, Xora, Broadway, and Quake Arena, the EAGLE said. It further stated that several of these pubs have come under scrutiny for facilitating drug consumption by allocating concealed or restricted areas for substance use. The accused also revealed that he, along with friends, made multiple visits to Goa, where they procured and used cocaine from Nigerian nationals Dezmond and Stanley. Additionally, a 2022 visit to New Delhi for a wedding brought him into contact with another Nigerian supplier, Prince, from whom he procured cocaine locally. A large number of consumers were named, including professionals, gym partners, techies, doctors, and pub directors, the release added. The accused maintained financial dealings through personal and commercial bank accounts including the one linked to “Ternion Hospitality”, a business entity created while taking over a Madhapur-based restaurant. The drugs seized from Surya’s vehicle were properly weighed, sealed, and marked (P1 to P6), and the entire seizure was video documented in the presence of government mediators and clues team officers. The operation adhered strictly to all procedural requirements under the NDPS Act, including Sections 42(2) and 50, ensuring evidentiary strength for prosecution. Based on the available evidence, a case was registered under Sections 8(c), 20(b)(ii)(A), 22(a), 22(b), 27A, and 29 of the NDPS Act. The accused has been remanded to judicial custody, and the investigation is ongoing to trace the financial flow, courier channel nexus, digital footprints, and role of pubs and commercial establishments. This case exemplifies the evolution of drug networks within urban India—where educated individuals, tech-savvy payment methods, and lifestyle environments converge to form high-value trafficking and consumption rings. EAGLE reiterated its resolve to pursue such networks to their roots, ensuring accountability across suppliers, financiers, and elite consumers alike. It appeals to the public, hospitality industry, and youth communities to remain vigilant and report suspicious narcotics activity. “We will continue our sustained operations against drugs with zero tolerance and across all social and economic classes,” it added.
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