HERALD: The drugs trade has been thriving in the coastal areas despite regular arrests. Your take...

MICHAEL LOBO: I have said it many times and have raised the issue every now and then. There is a systematic operation of this drug trade. We have to fight it unitedly. What we are doing is just creating a hype and blaming each other.

HERALD: But as an MLA of the ruling party, don’t you think it is possible to eradicate this menace?

Lobo: I have taken up this issue not just for five years but for around 8 years, even before becoming the MLA when I was ZP member. Whenever we get information from anyone we ask the police. I think there is a need for all of us to work unitedly to get rid of this disease.

HERALD: Despite you raising the issue, why has the government not been successful in eradicating drugs trade from the State?

Lobo:   We are still lagging behind in some respects but it's still not late yet. Let us work together. Let the coastal belt ministers, Goa Forward president, MGP president, Independent MLAs, BJP president and Congress president come together and say we want this menace to be wiped out, only then, the police will act.