PORVORIM: Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant on Tuesday admitted in the House that the main supplier of narcotic drugs in the State has not yet been identified. He said this during a debate on the drug issue – the second one this session – wherein the government also conceded that some Goan youth are falling prey to the illicit trade.
During a discussion to a starred question tabled by Leader of the Opposition Digambar Kamat, the CM said the investigating agencies have not been able to track the main kingpin in the State but that investigations are ongoing depending on the persons arrested and quantum of narcotics seized from different locations.
“Youth between the age of 20 years and 35 years are involved in the drugs trade. They are also being caught and prosecuted. I feel that Education Department as well as parents should also be serious on the issue and take up the responsibility to ensure children do not fall prey to this major problem for mere small earning. It’s really bad for their future,” Sawant said during the Question Hour.
The CM was responding to a question tabled by Kamat who expressed worry about increasing number of Goans being arrested for peddling narcotics. “There are so many new types of drugs that have entered the market. There have been even instances wherein soft drinks are spiked. Generations get finished owing to this menace. Why don’t you (government) get to the root cause of it and track down the main supplier (kingpin),” Kamat said, as the issue saw an elaborate discussion.
The CM, who also holds Home portfolio, said the police department is trying to identify the main supplier in the drugs trade. However, he added, “The main suppliers are not identified. Anti-Narcotics Cell is investigating and getting to the root cause. The kingpins in the major seizures are being tracked down.”
He said that mainly banned substances like ganja and charas are peddled in Goa, which are brought from the neighbouring States while these are not grown in the State. “Drugs are not cultivated in Goa. Only one case was registered by Anti-Narcotic Cell where banned product was found to be cultivated in Goa,” he told the House.
The Opposition benches brought to the notice of the House that several types of drugs have already
entered the Goan market and are being misused to destroy the lives of the youth. Kamat also stated that among many Indians caught for drugs trafficking, there are Goans too.
Sawant also stated that drugs, seized in different raids, over the past two years have not been destroyed but assured to do so within six months. “Drugs worth Rs 1.54 crore approximately are in policy custody. It has not been disposed off for the last two years. We will dispose it within six months,” he said, explaining that the government maintains a video recording of the destruction of the contraband, which is carried out in the narcotics incinerator at Goa Medical College.
Earlier, Kamat had raised apprehensions that seized drugs could be ‘recycled’ and as such, the need to dispose it off without any delay was of utmost important. He sought to know the time frame to destroy the drugs and methodology adopted “because there is a fear the seized drugs may get circulated back. It may be recycled.”
The CM, reiterating in his reply, allayed fears stating the task force committee under Deputy Inspector General of Police of the Anti-Narcotics Cell ensures there is no violation of any sorts.
As per the written reply tabled on the floor of the House, a total of 168 cases were registered in the years 2017, followed by 222 cases in 2018 and 114 cases in 2019 up to June 30, 2019.
To another question on the types of drugs available in International Market both chemical as well as natural drugs, the CM stated, “Drugs are not available in the open market. However upon the development of specific/reliable input from the sources, raids are laid down against those in illegal possession of drugs wherein different types of drugs are seized.”
He also ruled out of having any knowledge of the existence of drugs mafia in Goa. Sawant’s written reply stated, “There are only rumours and no confirmed knowledge of existence of ‘Drug Mafia’ in Goa. However, Goa being a tourist destination, narcotic drugs are being smuggled in Goa for trade, consumption and transit. The drug dealers/suspects involved in narcotic activities operate in a clandestine and organised manner. The information about narcotic activities is collected through sources and raids are conducted and the perpetrators of these crimes are arrested.”
