Russian held for growing cannabis in Goa

PANAJI: Goa police on Sunday arrested a Russian national for cultivating cannabis at a rented house at Morjim and seized plants worth Rs 1.6 crore.
Police said a tip-off that a person is cultivating cannabis on the terrace of a rented house. Pernem police constituted team and gathered more information before acting.
Police said they then raided the premises and found that cannabis were grown in the house as well as the terrace. They seized 33kg of plants valued at approximately Rs 1.7crore.
Police arrested Varsily Rakhmanov, who had come to India on a tourist visa on November 14 and shifted to Morjim on November 15. He has been residing at same place since then. Police said the accused has been visiting Goa for the last 12 years and staying in Morjim during his visits for the last three years.
Police said they are verifying whether he is involved in any other narcotics case.