Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Wednesday directed Director General of Police M. Mahender Reddy to form a special Narcotic and Organized Crime Control Cell in the Police Department with 1000 members.

He made it clear that in the narcotic drugs cases, culprits, however high and mighty they may be, should be punished. He said a special action plan should be prepared for the strict implementation of the stringent measures.

The police also arrested nine of the 13 high-profile businessmen in Hyderabad who were consumers of the drug supplied by Tony. Police Commissioner Anand had said that the police have evidence that Tony has been supplying drugs to people of affluent sections in the city.

Following the orders, the Police and Excise Departments had launched a state-wide drive, resulting in large-scale seizure of ganja and other drugs. The crackdown comes amid growing indications that Hyderabad has emerged as a key centre peddling and consumption of narcotic drugs.