Hyderabad: A Rajendranagar MDMA drug bust led to the arrest of two foreign nationals after police seized 150 grams of MDMA worth about Rs 25 lakh during a joint operation by Rajendranagar police and the Hyderabad Narcotic Enforcement Wing (H-NEW).
Police identified the accused as Al-Aqar Abdurabu Mohammed Abdurabu (37), a Yemen national living in Tolichowki, Hyderabad, and Hasan W. A. Hashem (28), a Palestinian national living in Bengaluru. Officers also recovered a knife and four mobile phones from them.
Acting on credible information about drug trafficking, police conducted the operation within the limits of Rajendranagar police station on March 3. Subsequently, they arrested the two suspects and seized the narcotics. Investigators registered a case under Crime No.236/2026. They invoked Sections 8(C), 22(C) and 29 of the NDPS Act, 1985, along with Section 14 of the Foreigners Act.
Police said Abdurabu Mohammed has a long criminal history related to narcotics offences. Earlier, Prohibition and Excise police in Ameerpet arrested him in several NDPS cases. In addition, other agencies also booked him in drug-related offences. In two cases registered in 2023 and 2026, he remained absconding while courts issued non-bailable warrants against him.
Investigation details in Rajendranagar MDMA drug bust
Investigators said Abdurabu Mohammed allegedly procured narcotic drugs such as MDMA and cocaine from an absconding Nigerian supplier. He reportedly placed orders through WhatsApp and transferred payments online.
Meanwhile, Hasan allegedly helped him collect the drugs and distribute them to consumers in Hyderabad and Bengaluru. At times, the accused used a dead-drop method to supply narcotics. In other cases, they delivered the drugs directly to known consumers.
Investigators also discovered that the network sometimes transported drugs to Hyderabad through private travel buses. Moreover, police believe the accused targeted young consumers and professionals to expand their network.
Officials said Abdurabu Mohammed first came to India in 2008 on a tourist visa. Later, he returned on student visas but discontinued his studies. Over time, he allegedly entered drug trafficking after associating with several narcotics offenders.
Similarly, Hasan earlier studied in Bengaluru. In 2022, Yelahanka New Town police arrested him in another NDPS case after seizing 300 grams of MDMA. After securing bail, he worked in different occupations. However, investigators believe he later re-established contact with Abdurabu Mohammed.
Police also warned that drug abuse among students, IT professionals and employees remains a serious concern. Therefore, authorities urged parents to monitor their children’s activities carefully. They also asked the public to share information about drug abuse with the H-NEW team.
DCP Rajendranagar Zone S. Srinivas supervised the operation. Additional DCP K. Srinivas and ACP Rajendranagar Division T. Srinivas also coordinated the investigation.
