Team Herald
PANJIM: In one of the biggest seizures of drugs in Goa, Crime Branch Police busted Golden Triangle-based drug smuggling racket by arresting three persons including a woman from Bangkok and seized hydroponic weed (ganja) weighing 11.672 kg worth Rs 11.67 crore.
The police arrested a mule and two members of a well organised international gang and are on the lookout for more accused.
The accused have been identified as Goutham M (26) from Bengaluru and presently residing at Guirim, Bardez, Sreejil P P from Kerala and Shilna A from Bangkok and currently residing in Bengaluru.
The police team led by PI Tushar Lotlikar on March 8 arrested Goutham, currently residing at St Anthony Waddo, Guirim, in possession of a transparent polythene packet containing dried greenish fruiting tops (buds) suspected to be hydroponic weed (ganja), weighing 11.672 kg worth Rs 11.67 crore. During a search, the contraband was found hidden in his rented room and seized.
During the course of interrogation, Goutham revealed that he was contacted by his friend Taslim, based in Bangkok, who offered him Rs 1 lakh for delivering the consignment from Bangkok to India. Further disclosures led to the arrest of Shilna A on March 12 from Bengaluru by a team led by PI Vikas Deykar. According to the police, she is a key member of the group operating from Bangkok and coordinates with local suppliers in Bengaluru.
Financial investigation revealed that Sreejil P P, a native of Kannur, Kerala, is the financial backbone of the gang and had booked international flight tickets for Goutham and other individuals suspected to be involved in the syndicate.
The police team led by PI Kishore Ramanan apprehended Sreejil from Kannur, Kerala, on March 19.
Upon interrogation, it came to light that the drug was supposed to be sold in Goa. The Goa Police have now issued look-out circulars (LOCs) and blue notice against other members of the gang, who are hiding in Thailand.
A case has been registered against the three accused under Sections 20 (b) (ii) (B) of Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
All three accused persons are currently in police custody and further investigation is in progress with the investigating officer PI Prashal Dessai under the Supervision of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Rajesh Kumar and SP (Crime Branch) Rahul Gupta Indian Police Service (IPS).