Bhadradri-Kothagudem is another route Khamman is a drug spot

Its proximity to Chhattisgarh state and easy connectivity has turned Khammam town into a stock point for ganja, and its transport through the Khammam and Bhadradri-Kothagudem districts.

The ganja from Chhattisgarh is said to be more in demand because of its strength. There are several places in the Dandakaranya, a dense forest in Chhattisgarh, where ganja is being cultivated illegally.

According to intelligence reports, about a tonne of ganja is smuggled from Chhattisgarh daily to different cities. A major portion of this passes through the agency areas in Andhra Pradesh.

The smugglers have chosen Khammam as a centre to stock the narcotic. The seizure of 180 kg of ganja from a house in Khammam brought the focus on the fact that the town was turning into a stock point.

Smugglers change their techniques, packing the narcotic into bags of different sizes ranging from 25 kg to 5 kg. The police recently seized ganja at Tallada that was packed in 2 kg packets. The smugglers are said to be introducing people with criminal records into the trade.

Sources said the police gets to seize ganja when two groups fall out over profit sharing. Four persons were taken into custody on June 27 at the Khammam railway station and 27 kg ganja was seized from them. Sources said they were caught on a tip-off from a former gang member.