Visakhapatnam: After a decade-long legal battle, four persons from Bailapudi village in Cheedikada mandal of in Anakapalli district have been convicted of cannabis trafficking and sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment by the Chodavaram court on Thursday.
Delivering the verdict, 9th Additional District Judge Hari Narayana also imposed a fine of Rs1 lakh on each accused with an additional two-and-a-half years of imprisonment in case of default.
The Convicted Men Were Identified As Jajimoggala Ramana, 26, Darapu Manikyam, 60, Jajimoggala Nukaraju, 28, and Kiranam Palli Bhuloka, 60.
The case dates back to March 12, 2015, when Cheedikada sub-inspector D. Viswanadham and his team arrested the four in Konam village near a BSNL cell tower, following a tip-off. They also seized four sacks of cannabis weighing 120 kg from the accused. Investigations revealed that the quartet, employed in agriculture, developed a trafficking network by purchasing cannabis at lower prices and smuggling it into in the agency and Paderu areas for resale.
After reviewing the witnesses and evidences produced by the police during the trial, the court delivered the verdict in the case.
