4 smugglers get 10-year jail term for ganja trade in Anakapalle

Visakhapatnam: The IX-additional district judge court in Chodavaram of Anakapalle district on Wednesday sentenced 4 smugglers — Penta Srinivasa Rao, V Nooka Raju, Surla Ramana and K Rama Rao — to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for possession of 80 kgs of marijuana in Jan 2017. The court also slapped a fine of Rs 1 lakh on the convicts. District police chief Tuhin Sinha said the Kothakota police conducted a vehicular check-up at Dondapudi check post on Jan 8, 2017, intercepted 2 bikes, and seized 80 kgs of cannabis when the drug peddlers transported the weed on the bikes. The police registered a case against the smugglers and investigated the case. The smugglers were charged under relevant sections of the NDPS Act, and a charge sheet was filed. After the regular trials, the judge sentenced the 4 to 10 years' imprisonment and slapped a fine of Rs 1 lakh.