22 Dec 2019 | 06:12am IST
Nigerians continue to rule the COAST
The recent raids and seizures of drugs in the last two months, have nonchalantly highlighted a new and vivid dimension to the state of tourism in Goa, which was hitherto referred to only in hushed tones. Furthermore, a look at how the events unfolded, leading to the arrests and subsequent clampdown, only points to the fact that the entire exercise may have exposed just a tiny tip of the iceberg. The dark underbelly is yet to be revealed in its totality and the rot therein, continues unabated. Investigations also reveal that most of the peddlers are Nigerians, who couldn’t be bothered about the prevailing laws. SURAJ NANDREKAR finds out more...
SURAJ NANDREKAR
On October 30, this year, the Goa police had its biggest-ever successful drugs raid. In this landmark case, which demonstrated the intent of the authorities in this area, Calangute police arrested a 34-year-old Nigerian national and seized drugs valued at Rs 3 crore during a raid conducted at a rented premise in Candolim.
The accused was identified as Ifeanyi Pascoel Obi alias Alex. He was earlier involved in a drugs case dating back to 2012, wherein he was booked for possessing cocaine. That case is pending trial. The accused was also involved in a case of overstaying in 2011.
As the drugs seizure is huge, the police suspect that the accused could be a big-time drug dealer and that the timely raid helped them seize the large quantity of drugs. The raid was conducted based on specific inputs, said police officials.
The suspected drugs include 1.021 kg of cocaine, around 2.035 kg MDMA, 760 grams of amphetamine, 106 grams of charas and 1.270 kg of ganja. The total value of the seized drugs is Rs 3 crore. Police have also seized cash of Rs 2 lakh, which was found in the rented room. They have also seized the mobile phone of the accused.
Since, January this year, Calangute Police has booked 42 cases against individuals caught in the drugs raid carried out in its jurisdiction, some in typical Bollywood style, of which nine were Nigerian or Ghana nationals.
While the Calangute police have cracked down on these foreign nationals involved in trading of banned substances, the other coastal police stations in northern belt seem to lack commitment in nailing them.
An estimated five to seven million tourists descend in Goa every year, which makes the popular tourist destination a happy hunting ground for the Nigerians.
According to Calangute Police Inspector (PI) Nolasco Raposo, the intruders operate in close-knit groups and are not afraid of the risk involved when it comes to selling drugs to anyone with enough cash.
“We have been able to control their trade in the Calangute police station jurisdiction after we stepped up our intelligence-gathering in the area,” says Raposo.
Sources revealed that Nigerians rent rooms in North Goa, the epicenter of the drug retail business, a bike ride away from scenic tourist beaches such as Anjuna, Vagator, Baga and Calangute.
"Ninety per cent of them are involved in the drug business," say locals.
Since 2010, 47 Nigerian nationals have been arrested in Calangute itself on charges of drug trafficking.
However, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jaspal Singh begs to differ, saying, “Foreigners of several nationalities are involved in such trade. It is incidental that majority of them are Nigerians.”
He added that he had taken up the issue with the Nigerian High Commission, which visited Goa last week.
“The problem of travel document was also brought to their notice,” he said.
The rise of the Nigerians Any drug trafficker today is most likely a Nigerian, who is fluent in more than one of the three Nigerian languages-Ibo, Housa and Yoruba, police sources say.
They come to Goa as a student or a cloth trader, which allows them to blend into a diaspora of an estimated 50,000 Nigerians, throughout the country, many of whom stay legitimately as students and businessmen.
Goa's cocaine coast is only one of their many haunts. In recent months, Nigerian peddlers have hawked namak (salt, Hindi slang for cocaine) in North Goa.
Police officials say Nigerians are aggressive businessmen and undeterred by arrest.
The police have also been unable to penetrate the Nigerian drug gangs, who have links with global cartels. This is one reason why the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) frequently works with the US Drug Enforcement Agency for information on drug shipments.
There are an estimated at least 50 Nigerians illegally living in Goa. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) deported some Nigerians, recently, but officials say many deported Nigerians are known to have returned with new identities.
As per information given by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, Rajesh Kumar, the Goa Police has registered 207 cases under the NDPS Act and has seized drugs of around 82 kgs.
According to sources, the total seizure would be around Rs 5 crore or more.
Rs 4 cr seizure only in Calangute In its 42 raids, the Calangute Police Station has been able to seize contrabands worth almost Rs 4 crore, says PI Raposo.
The banned substances are Heroin, Cocaine, MDMA, LSD etc, he said.
Raposo adds that besides Calangute Police, the Crime Branch, Coastal police and Anti-Narcotics Cell have also made quite a few successful raids.
“These raids have virtually broken the backbone of the drugs trade,” he says.
He says that the drugs are mostly synthetic, which are manufactured somewhere nearby.
Sources, however, reveal that these seizures - are only a tip of the iceberg.
Cocaine is now within the reach of India's affluent middle class, as easily available.
From Rs 7,000 a gram a decade ago, prices of cocaine have dropped to between Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 per gram, sources say.
The drop in cocaine prices is a result of increased supply by the Nigerians.
"The consumption of drugs has picked up due to availability and affordability," says Daniel Fernandes, a resident of coastal area.
Anjuna sees just 13.5 lakh seizure Considered as the hub of drug trade in Goa, Anjuna police has managed to seize just 13.5 lakh of drugs in the locality.
While one sees several foreigners, including Nigerians, in the area, police have found just one case where the African is involved in drugs.
The total NDPS cases in the police station are just 12, which has 5 foreigners involved.
The total seizure is worth Rs 13,58,500.
