Narcotics seized in Tirupati and nearby areas: Government

NEW DELHI: Are the environs around Tirupati turning into a smuggling hub of drugs ? This was the question posed in Rajya Sabha today to which the government replied that several hundred grams of contraband were seized in the temple town and its adjoining areas.

"As per the available reports, 750 gm of cocaine was seized by the (Andhra Pradesh) state police in Tirupati area during the period from 2009 to 2011 (till date)," Minister of State for Home, Mullappally Ramachandran informed the Rajya Sabha.

He said, further, parcels found to have been booked at Tirupati containing 904 gm heroin and 200 gm methylphenidate were detected and seized by the Customs department in Hyderabad.

The Minister said in the first case, two students were arrested on October 19 who had purchased the drug from two local suppliers, one of them student, for further distribution and the reason may be attributed to addiction or to make easy money.

In the later case, one Nigerian-origin person was arrested, he said.