Ganja Seized at Visakhapatnam Central Jail: Controversy Surrounds Drug Smuggling
A major controversy has erupted at Visakhapatnam Central Jail after the discovery of ganja (cannabis) within the prison. This incident has raised serious concerns about the lax surveillance in the jail, with allegations that inmates are being provided with luxury items and illegal substances. There have been prior accusations of gutka, khaini, and bidis being delivered during prisoner visits, but this latest incident involving ganja has sparked widespread debate.
The ganja was reportedly smuggled into the jail during a previous visit. In August 2023, a former criminal named Ellaji threw a packet over the jail wall during a “Mulaqat” (visitor meeting). When the jail staff intercepted the package, they found it contained ganja, along with bidis, khaini packets, and twenty drug tablets. Ellaji was immediately apprehended and handed over to the Arilova police station.
Visakhapatnam Central Jail houses approximately 1,800 prisoners across 16 barracks, and a significant portion of them are involved in ganja-related cases. During a recent inspection by the Home Minister Anita, it was revealed that around 1,200 inmates in the facility are connected to drug offenses. This highlights the growing concern over the smuggling of drugs into the prison system.
In another incident, Kadium Srinivasa Rao, a pharmacist at the jail, allegedly played a role in the drug trade. A remand prisoner, Gurala Sai, befriended him and convinced him to bring ganja hidden in his lunch box. Srinivasa Rao complied, bringing 95 grams of ganja wrapped in balls inside the lunch box. The prison’s intelligence officers, tipped off with precise information, caught him during a routine check at the main gate.
Additionally, there have been reports of escort police officers involved in smuggling drugs during prisoner transfers. A recent incident saw a rowdy-sheeter causing a commotion in jail under the influence of drugs, claiming to have been cheated by guards who had failed to deliver the promised ganja. This series of events raises serious questions about the effectiveness of the jail’s security and the involvement of prison staff in the drug smuggling network.
