Goa is drugs consumption point: NCB official
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, AUG 17
Being an international tourist destination, Goa has emerged as drugs consumption point, says a senior Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officer.
This revelation has sparked apprehensions among enforcement agencies that Goa is highly exploited for narcotics trade and abuse.
It may be recalled that Director General of Police Bhim Sain Bassi had said that Goa is a victim of narcotics trade.
To counter narcotics operations, the office of NCB, lately set up in Goa, is running a series of training programs among officials. A highly-placed officer informed that NCB sleuths imparted one-day sensitization program to officials including Central Reserve Police Force jawans at Dabolim International Airport.
“Airport and railways are entry and/or exit points to carry out the illicit trade…NCB intends to create awareness against narcotics trafficking via this route…this will help enforcement authorities to detect drug movement, modus operandi, etc,” informed a senior officer on the condition of anonymity.
This in fact basically helped to detect methods used by drugs traffickers who trickily transport narcotics right under the nose of security agencies.
“Security checks at airports and other important locations should be carried out keeping in mind the current narcotics scenario. Since Goa being a tourist hub, it is important to control such situations,” informed a source.
The arrest of international drug peddler Yaniv alias Atala Benaim in March 2010 came after a videotape shot by his former girlfriend Lucky Farmhouse using spy cam surfaced on web portals, showed him bragging his connection with Goa Police.
This also resulted in the arrests of seven police officials for their alleged links with drug peddlers and for hatching conspiracy. These arrests were close on the heels of yet another alleged drug dealer David alias Dudu Driham, who was caught with several kg of narcotics in his possession in February 2010.
Crime Branch, which is investigating the much touted nexus probe, is grappling to quiz Lucky, who claimed she has evidence to expose links between Goa police and notorious drug mafia.
“The probe is moving at snail’s pace for nearly six months,” said a police source.
