The officials from Prohibition and Excise (Enforcement Wing) on Tuesday arrested three persons, on suspicion that they were trying to smuggle opium. The officials also seized about 20 kgs of suspected opium, near Kothapalli village of G Madugula mandal in Visakhapatnam district.
The arrested have been identified as P Balakrishna (24), K Somaraju (25) from Gemmeli area of G Madugula mandal, S Rajayya (25) of Seethampeta, Srikakulam district.
According to Assistant Commissioner (Prohibition and Excise- enforcement) Visakhapatnam, SVVN Babji Rao, on receiving credible information, the excise officials intercepted three persons near Kothapalli area and recovered 19.75 kgs of suspected opium.
“We suspect the material seized to be opium. In February this year we seized Hashish Oil for the first time and there are indications that there are a few units producing Hashish oil in the interior parts of the agency area. The product that we seized today could also be a concentrated form of Hashish oil. We have sent it to our lab for analysis,” said Mr. Babji Rao.
