Indian Police have busted a major cannabis trafficking ring with international links, arresting eight suspects, including a software engineer from Bengaluru, for allegedly running a large-scale operation that stretched from Odisha and Andhra Pradesh to Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka.

Investigators say the gang specialised in smuggling high-quality Sheelavathi strain cannabis, sourced from tribal regions along the Andhra–Odisha border.

This marks the first known case of ganja from this region being pushed into Sri Lanka, according to officials.

Among those arrested is 28-year-old Gade Renuka, a native of Vizianagaram district, described by police as the “lady don” for her extensive control over the network.

Renuka allegedly operated across Payakaraopeta, Narsipatnam, Saluru, and Bengaluru, renting houses to store and distribute cannabis. She and her associate Surya Kalidas reportedly used a rented property in Narsipatnam as a hub for consignments destined for Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka.

The breakthrough came after Inspector Y Tarakeswara Rao and Nathavaram Sub-Inspector intercepted the suspects near Srugavaram village, seizing 74 kg of dry cannabis, a car, two motorcycles, and several mobile phones.

Police say Renuka built a sophisticated supply chain, sourcing cannabis from Balimela and Chitrakonda in Odisha at around Rs. 5,000 per kg, with the help of middleman Adduri Prasad.

Drivers Madhan Kumar and Naga Muttu transported consignments to the Rajanagaram highway junction, from where they were routed to Tamil Nadu and smuggled into Sri Lanka. The gang also sold cannabis in small packets locally.

Authorities are now probing deeper to uncover the full extent of the network and identify other operatives involved in the cross-border smuggling racket.

The National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB) has reported a sharp rise in the use of crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as “Ice”, in Sri Lanka, with more than 60,000 users arrested during the first 10 months of this year.

Assistant Director of Research at the NDDCB, Thamara Darshana, said arrest data pointed to a steady increase in the use of the synthetic drug in recent years. He was speaking at a media briefing held at the Department of Government Information.

According to Darshana, drug use remains particularly prevalent in the districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara and Kandy. While trends also show changes in cannabis use, he noted that the growth in the consumption of “Ice” is more pronounced when compared to heroin and cannabis.

He further revealed that nearly 99 percent of individuals, who use narcotic substances, are polydrug users, meaning they consume more than one type of drug simultaneously.

Meanwhile, NDDCB Director of the Treatment and Rehabilitation Division, Shantha Gamage, said young people aged between 20 and 30 are the most vulnerable to drug use, underscoring the need for targeted prevention and rehabilitation efforts.

The Cabinet of Ministers granted their concurrence to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Youth Affairs to appoint S. Achchudan of Special Grade of Sri Lanka Administrative Service, who is currently serving as an Additional Commissioner of Elections at the Elections Commission who is
recommended by the panel of interviewers to the post of Director General of the Sports Development Department with effect form 01.01.2026.