CANACONA: The Canacona Police arrested three miscreants for allegedly running an inter-State smuggling gang and seized alcohol worth around Rs 1.85 lakh that was sought to be illegally taken from Canacona to Karnataka through the sea route.
The kingpin Raju Naik who was the brain behind the clandestine operation and is alleged to be related to a police officer in the State was also arrested. South Goa SP Sunita Sawant, while assuring investigations were underway said, “as of now, no such information is revealed.”
Canacona SDPO Tikam Singh while admitting that the raid was conducted following a tip-off, said two canoes were used to smuggle alcohol from Pollem beach to Karnataka.
“Though three persons have been arrested, the canoe operators managed to escape,” stated police.
“By the time our team ventured into the sea, the canoe operators fled along with the vessels,” said the SP.
Canacona has been in news for illicit manufacturing and smuggling of alcohol to other States via Karnataka border. Wednesday’s raid is the first involving using sea route to smuggle alcohol as in earlier cases it was sought to be smuggled by road.
