Six persons were arrested by the Excise Enforcement team in Hyderabad after 16.23 kg of marijuana allegedly smuggled from Odisha was seized during a raid at Chapel Road. According to the officials, the seized contraband is estimated to be worth around ₹16 lakh in the illegal market.

Officials said the team intercepted a group that was allegedly attempting to sell the marijuana, which had been transported from Odisha in a car.

The main accused was identified as Ghulam Rasool, 32, a native of Odisha. Investigators said he allegedly transported the marijuana to Hyderabad and was trying to sell it to local tea, coffee and snack vendors at Chapel Road when the enforcement team conducted the raid.

The other arrested accused were identified as Mahmood Khan, 48, Chand Bai, 45, Bismillah Khan, 46, S.K. Mujahid, 32, and Tajuddin Khan, 45. Officials said five of the accused were residents of Nampally.

Along with the contraband, the enforcement team seized ₹14,500 in cash, the car used for transportation and six mobile phones belonging to the accused.

The accused, seized marijuana, vehicle and mobile phones were handed over to the Narayanaguda Excise Station for further investigation.