MAPUSA: Pernem police in a major raid on Monday arrested two Russian nationals, Aleksei Perevalov (31) and Aleksei Rebriev (41) for running a cannabis plantation nursery at Gaudewada, Mandrem.
According PI Jivba Dalvi, a information was received regarding 2 foreigners growing cannabis in their rented house and selling it. The information was verified an accordingly a raiding team was formed under PI Dalvi and a raid was conducted at Gawdewada, Mandrem.
During the raid it was found that the two Russians had started a cannabis plantation in their flat and a suitable environment was created for the same using tune lights, exhaust fans and other equipments in order to facilitate proper growth of the cannabis plants.
Five fully cultivated cannabis plants along with dry Ganja weighing 2.5 kg all worth Rs 3.5 lakhs were seized under the NDPS Act. Cash of Rs 25,000 was also recovered during the search.
Pernem police have registered an offence under Section 20(a)(i), 20(b)(ii)(A), 25 R/w 29 of Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act for cultivating cannabis.
Police have also booked an offence against the owner of the house, one Sudhir Gawade a resident of Mandrem for allowing his premises for cultivation of cannabis and thereby being a part of the conspiracy.
Police said the Russians were staying in the premises since May 2020.
Besides PI Dalvi the other member of the raiding team included PSI Praful Giri, PSI Harish Vaingankar, PSI Sanjit Kandolkar and constables Ravi Maloji, Anishkumar Poke, Vinod Pednekar, Sabaji Rawool, Devidas Malkar and Deepa Virnodkar.
Further investigation is in progress under the overall supervision of SDPO Mapusa, Gajanan Prabhudesai and SP North Utkrisht Prasoon, IPS.