A serious drug peddling racket with an international connection has been busted by Hyderabad police, wherein cocaine stashed away in sandal heels, 1.6 grams of ‘ecstasy’ tablets, and a restaurant owner who procured these drugs from Delhi via a courier service were seized.
The probe started when the Cyberabad Narcotics Police Station had acted on a tip and picked up a restaurant owner, who was suspected to be a major consumer and distributor, on July 7. In the raid, officials seized 10 grams of cocaine, 3.2 grams of ‘OG Kush’, and 1.6 grams of ‘ecstasy’ pills.
What caught the special interest of the Elite Action Group for Drug Law Enforcement (EAGLE) was the manner in which the drugs were smuggled. The cocaine was hidden in the hollow heel of a sandal, which was then placed in a pink cardboard box and shipped out of New Delhi under the name “Fatima,” reports PTI.
The arrested individual has been named as 34-year-old Surya Annamaneni, an entrepreneur whose arrest has apparently uncovered a far-reaching, transnational drug ring. The ring entails foreign suppliers, patrons at high-end pubs, drugs shipped through courier, and payments conducted through electronic means, EAGLE reported in a statement.
Further searches by EAGLE of Annamaneni’s Scorpio SUV led to the seizure of the narcotics. It was found that Shree Maruthi Courier was used to transport the parcel containing the concealed sandals, as per NDTV reports.
Who is Surya Annamaneni?
Annamaneni, who is at the epicenter of this big drug haul, is a graduate in engineering and MBA who lives in Kompally and runs a restaurant called ‘Malnadu Kitchen’. Prior to opening his hospitality business in Hyderabad, he worked as a sales manager in Bengaluru in 2020.
During interrogation after his arrest, he admitted to consuming and selling illicit drugs as well as disclosing major sources of his supply, police said.
Nigerian Connection and Operations
is said to have revealed to officials that his chain involved Indian middlemen and some Nigerian traffickers who were based in Delhi, Bengaluru, and Goa. Nick, Jerry, Dezmond, Stanley, and Prince were the identified Nigerians.
He allegedly informed police that he ordered cocaine and MDMA regularly from a Nigerian source, transferring money through bank accounts offered by the traffickers, PTI said. To prevent interception, the drugs were hidden in ordinary consumer items and mailed using courier companies.
According to the police, transactions included ₹1.39 lakh moved through a business linked to Annamaneni’s restaurant, along with another ₹41,000 withdrawn in cash. After arrival, the narcotics were typically stored in either Annamaneni’s vehicle or his restaurant premises before reaching customers.
Between 2021 and 2025, the accused admitted to purchasing cocaine roughly 20 times, often consuming it at premium pubs in Hyderabad.
He is currently charged under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, and has been remanded to judicial custody.
