FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2024
After the arrest of a Goan student involved in drug dealing in Delhi by the Narcotics Control Bureau, it has become evident that the drug nexus has reached Goa. The agencies now face a tough task as modern technologies are being used in the business. The local police need not be mere spectators just because the NCB has initiated the action. It is high time the former works hard to get to the root of the nexus. Whenever the government claims that the narcotic trade has been brought under control, a large quantity of drugs are being seized.
If we look at the quantity of drugs seized in the last few years, it is an accepted fact that the business is not limited to coastal areas, but has spread all over the state. We cannot neglect the fact that though there exists an anti-narcotics cell, major raids have been conducted by the central agencies. The agency had seized large quantities of drugs even from Pissurlem-Sattari, which is comparatively a remote area. The seriousness of local police in such matters is hence questionable. Local police raided a few places after the incident. Even now, the police seize Ganja just to pretend that they are acting on the drug menace. They need to go beyond Ganja seizures.
Drugs that have demand on international platforms are available in Goa. The raids by central agencies have proved so. Hence, the local police must activate its intelligence cell. It is claimed that police and anti-narcotics cell effortlessly work to contain drug trafficking. The data is made public several times. However, all those involved in the trade have not been arrested, especially the big fish.
In Delhi, the NCB has successfully busted one of the biggest Lysergic acid diethylamide - LSD rackets. Six people, including a Goan, have been arrested. The accused have been using modern techniques like crypto currency, dark web or Instagram for drug trafficking. Hence, the agencies have to work hard to get to the bottom of the business. Meanwhile, the Hyderabad police had publicly alleged that they were not getting the expected cooperation from the Goa police in the investigation of certain drug cases. Hence, there were doubts raised over Goa police shielding the drug traders. The Hyderabad police have arrested Goans in a drug case. A few drugs had gone missing from police custody. Amid doubts being raised over the role of police in such cases, the Delhi case has come to fore. The case was cracked by tracing the drugs ordered by the Goan student. Therefore it is the duty of the local police to follow the footprints to solve the case. If they succeed in proving that this case is not connected to Goa, it might do good to their image.
The agencies have revealed that, according to initial findings, the drugs were supplied to various places from Delhi. Therefore, the police must investigate whether the drugs were supplied to Goa as well. If they fail to do so, the central agencies will reach Goa, and then the police might be left with nothing to defend themselves. Earlier, the actions by central agencies had exposed the trade that was going on a large scale. It is not a thing to boast of. The traders were using the latest techniques for LSD trafficking. Instagram was one of the media. Once they received a positive response from a particular Instagram user, the next chatting was done through the Wickr Me messaging app.
The important thing to note here is that the money was accepted in the form of crypto currency. Hence, the deals may be larger in scope, and while moving ahead with the investigation, it has to be taken for granted whether Goa is a part of it. The drugs are tasteless, odourless and colourless. Police must find out how far the substance has reached. While the government is trying its level best to give better treatment to tourists and improve its image, the drug nexus leading to the coastal state is definitely not welcoming news. Hence, without digging deep into the nexus, there is no scope for declaring the state as clean and safe for tourism.
