Hyderabad: In a major blow to narcotics networks, Telangana’s Eagle Force and police have frozen assets worth over Rs 100 crore linked to drug manufacturers and peddlers since 2024, targeting the financial backbone of organised trafficking operations across the state.The crackdown, spanning 18 cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, has targeted properties, bank accounts, vehicles and businesses allegedly acquired through drug trafficking proceeds.The freeze orders were obtained under section 68F(2) of the NDPS Act, which deals with the seizure or freezing of illegally acquired property. Investigators furnished evidence to establish that the assets were acquired through proceeds of crime.The latest orders were secured on Aug 17 and 18 from authorities concerned in Chennai and Mumbai by Eagle Force in coordination with Bodhan rural police. The orders targeted assets worth Rs 5.1 crore belonging to M Laxman Goud, M Laxmi, M Gangadhar Goud, M Raja Goud, Amar Singh Deshmukh, Baburao Baswaraj Kadere, Poonam Deshmukh and three others in an alprazolam manufacturing and distribution case registered in May 2025.The frozen assets include agricultural lands, plots, bank balances, vehicles, and a factory located in Telangana and Maharashtra.On Feb 20, authorities froze assets worth Rs 3 crore, including lands, vehicles and bank balances, belonging to 22 accused, including N Vishal Goud, E Sai Kumar Goud and K Ashok Kumar Goud, in a 1.9 kg alprazolam seizure case registered at Gummadidala police station in Sangareddy on Dec 31, 2024.In the same case, assets worth more than Rs 30 crore belonging to G Sudheer Goud, Bishweshwar Singh and eight others had been frozen in July 2025.According to Eagle Force officials, the property-freezing mechanism ensures that accused persons and their family members cannot continue to utilise or enjoy proceeds of crime once legal proceedings begin.“Once the freeze order is issued, the accused cannot do any deals or transactions on the property and when the accused in these cases are convicted, forfeiture proceedings for the frozen properties will be initiated under section 68 (H) (notice of forfeiture of property) of the NDPS Act. This works as a deterrent against the organised gangs,” said an Eagle Force official.A year-wise breakup shows that assets worth Rs 50.8 crore were frozen in nine NDPS cases in 2024. In 2025, authorities froze assets worth Rs 41.47 crore across six cases, while properties worth Rs 8.15 crore have been frozen in two cases so far in 2026.The accused in the 18 cases were allegedly involved in the manufacture or peddling of commercial quantities of contraband, including alprazolam, ganja, fentanyl injections, heroin, morphine and nitrazepam.Officials said the crackdown is set to widen further. “Four more cases are currently pending before the competent authority in Chennai for property freeze orders. Within a fortnight, we will be sending proposals for freezing properties belonging to the accused and their relatives,” said an Eagle Force official.
