TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The Additional Sessions judge, Mapusa, Desmond D’Costa has dismissed an application filed by Norman Azavedo, against the conviction order passed by the JMFC Mapusa for dealing in drugs without valid drug licence. This offence is in contravention of Section, 18(c) read with Section 27 (b) (ii) of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
The impugned judgment and order convicting the accused under Section 18 (c) of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and imprisoning him till the rising of the Court and payments of Rs 5000 is confirmed and upheld.
Prosecution and complaint was filed by Ratnakumar Y Arlekar, Assistant Drugs Controller of Directorate of Food and Drugs Administration.
Azavedo runs three pharmacies near the Calangute coast that have been raided in the recent past and shut down by the Food and Drugs Administration on suspicion of under-the-counter sale of prescription drugs. His business is also said to include a restaurant, super market and nightclub in Baga.
Reports say Azavedo was also arrested earlier this year in a joint operation by the Customs and Central Excise and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, on suspicion of smuggling huge quantities of crystalised Ketamine to Europe disguised as the herbal supplement Sat-Isabgol.
Ketamine is among the top recreational drugs in Europe with a kilo of powdered Ketamine fetching Rs 30,000 in India and Rs 10 lakh in Europe, officers said. Ketamine is a dissociative anaesthetic that goes by name Special K and Kat. er’s Smack.
