R Fernandes
The ANC had a gathering to mark the International Day against drug abuse and trafficking. The IGP-Goa Police stated that drug consumption is an indirect way of helping terrorism. He can say that the money from the drug trade ends up with terrorists, but not blame the same on drug users.
Drug use is not the same as use of endangered animal products which are used for fashion and medicine. Drug consumption in Goa is not due to fashion. Drug abuse is because of addiction which starts because the same is made freely available near schools – an offshoot of drug promoted. Prevention of these drug sales near such places and to juvenile targets would have stopped drug consumption.
The IGP knows very well how his own IAS Officer pushed confiscated drugs back into the market. This is what must be condemned. The Police has issued statements that foreigners, especially from Nigeria, are involved in drugs trade. Further, the Police inform us that these peddlers get deliberately charged for petty crimes so that they cannot be deported. This is where the problem lies: the Police failure to overcome this. These people, already charged with some crime, are still able to get rented accommodation. Locals cannot say no to them, even if it is known that they deal in drugs, as the Police themselves charge these locals with racism. Locals need to get out of this by asking for references – let these people provide a reference from their embassy or the Goa Police and then only rent out their premises. Note that the Goa Police have asked for a local, accused for desecrating religious places – even though he was acquitted in many such cases – to be externed. Why are these known drug peddlars/ theft accused not externed?
Fact is that drugs in Goa are deliberately being supported by those in power. First we saw certain drugs being grown right here in North Goa. Now we see Ketamine factory in Goa producing Rs 25 cr worth of the drug per month.
As usual, the most and only crooks of anything and everything-from garbage generators to Government job seekers through drug users- is the ordinary Goan citizen. And all live happily ever after!
