The amount of the seized narcotics is valued at Rs 65,000 in the international market. It may not be a huge amount, given that the narcotics trade runs into millions of rupees, but this find and arrest further underlines the fact that the narcotics problem in Goa is growing in different ways, as people are now growing the drug in the State, rather than relying solely on importing it.
There have been many such cases in recent years, and this is the second case in less than three months of Russian tourists being arrested for growing cannabis in the State. Russian couple, Viacheslar Terekhin and Anna Asharova, had been held in December last for allegedly growing cannabis in their rented apartment in Anjuna. Cannabis plants, drugs and other items worth Rs 15 lakh were seized from the couple’s residential apartment. In October last, police had arrested another foreigner Christopher Michael Pattison for growing cannabis in Alto Porvorim. The seized material was worth around Rs 4 lakh. In all cases it is cannabis, which is perhaps easier to grow. There is, however, no knowing just what other drugs may be currently being grown or being produced in the State.
Goa perhaps, is no longer just a user of narcotics, but is producing them, which does not rule out the possibility of drugs from Goa going to other places in the country or even abroad. The evidence to support this theory is growing. In June last year, authorities had raided an industrial shed at Pissurlem Industrial Estate and busted a ketamine producing racket. Some 100 kg of ketamine was seized in the raid, that quantity was surely not meant entirely for local consumption. This was supposed to be an international drug racket, as the raid had been part of a concerted effort by Directorate of Revenue Intelligence that had raided places across the country.
The efforts to take on the drug syndicate in the State have to be escalated to a war and be a multi-pronged attack. What has been missing in Goa is the full frontal attack on the drug lords in the State, that will break the illegal narcotics trade. The chain of supply has to be smashed, if the illegal trade is to be stopped. Except for the raid at Pissurlem that netted a major quantity of ketamine, most other drugs that are seized are small quantities, usually from the end dealer. The main drug lords are seldom held or even identified.
The authorities have to gear up for such a battle, which means that investigation leaks have to be plugged. The North Goa SP has admitted that the Russians were aware that the police were tracking them and so had been changing homes. Leaks, if at all they are occurring, will hamper any efforts to break the drug trade in the State. Any probe leading to a raid has to rely on information from neighbours and so has to be undertaken discreetly. The fact that the Russians were on to the police probe, indicates that they have their own sources of intelligence aiding them in the State.
It is time to smash the drug trade in the State. Goa cannot be allowed to be turned into an illicit drug manufacturing haven by foreigners who come here on tourist visas. They are abusing the hospitality of the State and taking advantage of the lax security measures to run an illegal trade. These men have to be sniffed out and arrested.
