Nigerian held with charas worth Rs 4.5 lakh at Caranzalem
TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Long held suspicions that drugs were available and sold in the city were confirmed with the arrest of a Nigerian with Rs 4.5 lakh worth of charas near Swimsea hotel on the Caranzalem beachfront when he came to deliver the merchandise to a client, police said. Within a km of the arrest point are at least eight educational institutions.
The Anti-Narcotics Cell arrested the 32-year ~ U Victor Izuchukwu ~ with three kg of charas approximately valued at Rs 4,50,000 in the international market. The accused had been previously arrested by the Calangute police for possession of charas, ganja and cocaine and was released on bail, pending trial.
At the press interaction to announce the capture, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Dr O P Mishra told newsmen “The accused was also arrested by Anjuna police for possession of 11 grams of cocaine and the case is under investigation”.
However, the DIG was tight-lipped on action plans for this type of crime; how many such Nigerians of doubtful antecedents were operating in the State; whether they were a part of any organised gang or whether there were plans to deport them.
Though he tried to explain that these were tourists, he was at a loss to explain how even people who were involved in drugs were allowed to spend so much time in the State, while admitting that preliminary investigations had shown that the given permanent address of this particular individual was in fact erroneous. He, however, did admit that some Nigerians were found to be involved in drug-related activities.
“This person is under watch,” Dr Mishra said, adding Nigerians are one “type of people” who are on the police radar and difficult to interrogate.
“Their (Nigerians) interrogation is definitely difficult,” he said, admitting that language was one of the barriers.
But the number two in the police force was not forthcoming on any plans to tackle the drug menace prevalent in the State especially, in the coastal belt and now, in the city especially in close proximity to a number of educational institutions.
When asked whether the police had any proposal for deporting such offenders, Dr Mishra said it was for the Ministry of External Affairs to look into this.
According to the police, PSI Somnath Mahajik received a tip-off that a strongly built, tall, ‘dark complexion’ person, wearing red T-shirt and blue jeans would be coming to deliver drugs to his prospective customer behind the resort. Accordingly, the police team laid a trap and apprehended Izuchukwu with 3.004 kg of charas, one red shoulder bag and Rs 1,500.
It may be recalled that the police itself has been embroiled in the drugs quagmire with many of past ANC members either accused or being investigated by authorities in what has become known as a politician-cop-drug nexus.
