Cop, lawyer caught with 2.5 kg opium

HYDERABAD: The Prohibition and Excise officials on Thursday arrested four persons including a constable and a High Court advocate for possessing 2.5 kg opium worth Rs 25 lakh.The arrested persons are Andhra Pradesh Special Police constable from Nalgonda Kotha Ramu, his associate M Yadaiah, a resident of Khairatabad, practicing advocate Venkat Reddy, a resident of LB Nagar and his associate Sahranappa who live in Shamshabad.Acting on a tip off, Excise sleuths laid a trap near Necklace road railway station and caught Kotha Ramu and Yadaiah. Police seized 1 kg opium. During the interrogation, the duo confessed their associates Venkat Reddy and Sharanappa were waiting near Eat Street. Venkat Reddy and Sharanappa were then caught near Eat Street and another 1.5 kg opium seized from them.The accused confessed they had procured the narcotic substance from a person in Rajahmundry four days ago by paying Rs 3 lakh."The accused wanted to make quick money by selling the drug to New Year revellers in the city," said Muralidhar, inspector, excise department.The market value of the seized narcotic substance is about Rs 25 lakh. The arrested were remanded to judicial custody by a court.