PANJIM: It is the peak tourism season and Goa Police is alert for suspected drugs seals in the coastal belt, but this year have new challenges to face.
The trend of smuggling the contraband seems to have changed and people are now growing or producing the drugs in their residences.
Anjuna PI CL Patil says the trend has changed following raids of police in coastal areas. “The drug peddlers/traders are no more depending on just smuggling drugs to Goa as they have been raided quite often,” Patil said.
He added, “Calangute Police, Pernem Police and Anjuna Police have stepped up raids and it has now been seen that traders have taken up either cultivation of drugs or something like a laboratory.”
Patil said that the police have stepped up intelligence in the locality. “This year we have conducted about 22 raids. But the one of drug labs last week has shocked everyone,” Patil told Herald, referring to the case where two Russians were caught growing cannabis.
Patil said police have been keeping a watch on any suspicious person. “However, unless we have concrete proof we cannot raid anybody’s house,” Patil said adding, “We have to depend on intelligence only.”
Crime Branch Superintendent and former Anti Narcotics Chief Karthik Kashyap also expressed similar sentiments. “We have booked four to five such cases of cultivation and laboratories. Yes the trend is changing but Goa Police is well equipped to deal with such things,” he said.
He added that Goa is a small place and sooner or later someone will come to know what is happening around. “The neighbours, police or someone will come to know and the culprit will be nabbed,” he said.
Kashyap said the police have started patrolling secluded areas in the coastal belt besides taking other measures. “Goa Police is ready for the season,” he said.
When asked whether the absence of Electronic Dance Music (EDM) festivals has come as a breather for Goa Police ahead of New Year, he said, “It does not make much difference. Nonetheless we have to be on our toes.”
