Panaji: Goa police have intensified crackdown on the drug trade. In the last eight months, the police have booked 74 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, arresting 82 people. Pertinently, 32 per cent of those arrested are residents of Goa.
As per the police figures covering the period from January to August 2020, the anti-narcotics cell, the crime branch and North Goa and South Goa police arrested 82 people: 26 of them are from Goa, 35 are from outside the state and 21 are foreigners.
In various cases, the police have seized around 78 kg drugs, which are worth Rs 4.08 crore.
Police have seized ganja (including cannabis plants) of around 71 kg, charas weighing 4 kg and other types of chemical drugs such as MDMA, ecstasy, cocaine etc.
Last month the crime branch launched a special drive against drug trafficking in the hinterland, as easy availability of ganja in rural areas has become a cause of concern for many.
Sources claimed that ganja is smuggled into Goa mostly from across the borders. Kudal in Maharashtra is one of the main areas from where the particular type of narcotic is brought into the state.
In 2019, the Goa police seized 72 kg of ganja after conducting raids at various places. This year, till August, around 71 kg of ganja (including cannabis plants) have been seized.
Apart from focusing on the hinterland, the crime branch also busted a late-night rave party.
Last month, on the intervening night of August 15 and 16, the police disrupted the party at a private villa in Anjuna in which drugs worth around Rs 9 lakh were seized.
A smalltime Bollywood actor Kapil Jhaveri and three foreign women – Elena Emelianova, Ana Nucamendi and Eva Ova – were arrested under the NDPS Act. Subsequently on August 18 the police arrested Shailesh Shetty for the alleged abetment and criminal conspiracy in connection with the party.
They were later released on conditional bail.
Last week the police arrested one Tony Fernandes, an alleged drug supplier for the rave party.