AUGUSTO RODRIGUES
Four deaths linked to the consumption of Fen tanyl have been reported across four police jurisdic tions in Goa between Jan uary 1 and May 4, 2026, triggering growing concern among medical profes sionals and enforcement agencies. Fentanyl is a powerful opioid prescribed for the treatment of severe pain. Though legally available through pharmacies, its sale is tightly regulated, making its alleged availa bility to recreational users particularly alarming. “The post-mortem exam inations of all the victims did not reveal signs of can cer or any other serious illness that would justify the prescription of Fenta nyl. All the victims were youngsters,” said a member of the Forensic Department of Goa Medical College. An RTI document ac cessed by O Heraldo re vealed that the first death linked to a Fentanyl over dose was reported by the Vasco Police Station on Janu ary 1, 2026. The second was reported by Colvale Police Station on February 3, while the third and fourth deaths were recorded on March 17 in the jurisdictions of Agacaim and Canacona po lice stations, respectively. Except for the January 1 case, in which only Fentanyl was detected, toxicology re ports in the remaining cases revealed the presence of oth er drugs as well. Tramadol was found in the blood of one victim, opiates and Oxaz epam in another, and a com bination of Oxazepam and Tramadol in the fourth case.
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“Drug dealers mix Fentanyl, Oxazepam, Tramadol and other substances to create a cocktail of narcotic and psy chotropic drugs so that users experience a faster and stronger high. Many times, this leads to death,” explained a senior forensic doctor based in South Goa, speaking on condition of anonymity. According to Dr Fenton D’Souza, who handles drug over dose cases along the northern coastal belt, the illegal use of Fentanyl can cause upper body muscle rigidity, making it difficult for victims to breathe. Despite videos of Fentanyl addiction circulating on social media, officials from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) believe the situation in Goa has not yet reached critical lev els, though they acknowledge the danger. “Fentanyl use has not yet reached the scale at which ket amine or amphetamines are being procured from pharma cies, mixed with other substances and sold. However, it is a highly addictive and dangerous drug,” said an NCB officer based in Goa, requesting anonymity. While there have been unverified claims that Fentanyl is being smuggled into the United States from China, NCB of ficials in Mumbai dismissed any immediate external threat to India. “Whatever is available to consumers in India is most like ly entering the market through illegal sales by pharmacies. I cannot rule out that possibility, and we will keep a closer watch now that the matter has come to our attention,” the officer added. Shweta S Dessai, Director of Goa’s Food and Drugs Ad ministration, said she found it difficult to believe that four individuals with no malignant illness had died due to Fen tanyl consumption. “There are very strict rules in place. It is impossible for any pharmacist in Goa to sell Fentanyl without following the procedures laid down. This is a matter of concern. Please email me the details and I will send my staff to in vestigate,” Dessai said. For activist Desmond D’Souza from Vagator, the emer gence of Fentanyl abuse comes as no surprise. “Spurious narcotics are responsible for most overdose deaths. It is not surprising that two of the deaths were re ported on the last day of Carnival in Goa,” he said. Dr Mary D’Souza, professor at the Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour (IPHB), warned that the misuse of prescription drugs for recreational highs is becoming in creasingly worrying. “Certain drugs are misused by people for pleasure. Fen tanyl relieves pain, but youngsters experiment with differ ent substances to experience different kinds of highs. The use of Fentanyl is worrying,” she said. “It is difficult to understand what goes on in the minds of people who mix drugs to achieve a quick high. I am aware of other prescription medicines being bought over phar macy counters, misused and later sold,” she added. The Randox toxicology reports accessed by O Heraldo indicate that amphetamines and methamphetamines are among the substances frequently detected by the Forensic Department of Goa Medical College. “I have not yet come across any Fentanyl overdose case in North Goa, though cases involving cocaine and MDMA are increasing. There have been regular overdose cases involv ing these two drugs this season,” said Dr Fenton D’Souza. However, several medical professionals believe that Fen tanyl is not only being illegally sold through pharmacies but may also be misused by some within the medical fra ternity itself. Residents along the northern coastal belt allege — though without concrete evidence — that drugs sourced from phar macies are mixed by local dealers and sold to vulnerable tourists “desperate for a kick during late-night parties.
