Software engineer dubbed ‘Lady Don’ nabbed in ganja smuggling case - The Times of India

VISAKHAPATNAM: Nathavaram police in Anakapalle district arrested eight persons, including a woman software engineer, for allegedly supplying high-quality Sheelavathi strain cannabis from Narsipatnam to Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka. Police noted this was likely the first instance of ganja from the Andhra–Odisha border being smuggled to Sri Lanka.The arrested woman, identified as Gade Renuka (28), a Bengaluru-based software professional and native of Santhakaviti in Vizianagaram district, was dubbed a "lady don" for her repeated involvement in the cannabis trade across Payakaraopeta, Narsipatnam, Saluru, and Bengaluru police limits.Renuka and her associate Surya Kalidas rented a house in Narsipatnam to procure cannabis from Odisha and supply it to Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka. Acting on a tip-off, Inspector of Narsipatnam rural police station and Nathavaram sub-inspector Y Tarakeswara Rao intercepted the gang near Srugavaram village, seizing 74 kg of dry cannabis, a car, two bikes, and mobile phones.Investigations revealed Renuka had formed a network, hiring houses in Bengaluru and Coimbatore to expand operations. With the help of middleman Adduri Prasad, she procured cannabis from tribals in Balimela and Chitrakonda in Odisha at Rs 5,000 per kg. Drivers Madhan Kumar and Naga Muttu transported the consignments to Rajanagaram highway junction, from where supplies were routed to Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka.Police said the gang also sold cannabis in small packets across Tamil Nadu, leveraging Renuka's links with smugglers in the state to push consignments into Sri Lanka. Get an chance to win ₹5000 Amazon Voucher by taking part in India's Biggest Habit Index! Take the survey here