Drug racket running through dating app in Hyderabad exposed; two smugglers and seven customers arrested

Hyderabad Police has busted a big drug smuggling network, which was being run through a popular dating app. During this operation, the police have arrested two drug peddlers and seven customers.

Hyderabad: Hyderabad Police has busted a big drug smuggling network, which was being run through a popular dating app. During this operation, the police have arrested two drug peddlers and seven customers.

100 grams of MDMA, 10 mobile phones, and a weighing machine have been recovered from the accused, whose total value is said to be around 15 lakh rupees.

How ​​was this network running?

The main accused, M. Ramakant, alias Kiran (44), and Mudawat Prasad (30), had set up their network on a gay dating app using code names like 'Rocket' and 'Pigeon.' According to the police, due to Ramakant's same-sex sexual interests, he started contacting customers through this app and then started supplying them drugs like MDMA.

Purchase and sale of drugs

The accused used to buy MDMA (Ecstasy) drugs from a Nigerian drug supplier based in Bengaluru. Initially, he used to buy this drug for ₹10,000 per gram and sell it in Hyderabad for ₹15,000 per gram. Later, he started buying it for ₹4,000 per gram and selling it for ₹7,000 to ₹8,000 per gram. This gave them huge profits.

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Who were the customers?

The seven customers arrested include a general surgeon, an IT recruiter, and a sex worker. All the customers came in contact through dating apps. Of these, one person was found HIV positive, which has further increased health concerns.

Arrests have been made earlier too

This is not the first time these accused have been caught in a drugs case. In July 2024, also, both of them were arrested and sent to jail on charges of drug smuggling. After getting released on bail, they started their network again.

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Using technology to peddle drugs

Police said that the accused used to connect with customers through encrypted messaging apps and dating apps so that they would not get caught. They had made only selected people their customers by hiding their identity.

This case is not limited to drug trafficking, but it also involves many serious issues like misuse of dating apps, health risks, and criminal recidivism. The police have handed over all the accused to the Chilkalguda police station, and further investigation is underway.