Is Canacona new PoS for drugs?

PANJIM: The startling revelations by rape and murder accused Vikat Bhagat, in a 26-page letter to his sister, has once again brought to the fore the illicit drug trade that goes on unabated along the Goa coast.

While the North coastal belt was known to be the major point of sale (PoS) of drugs the business has now slowly shifted to the southern coast.

Bhagat, in a letter written to his sister narrated how he, and the Irish national who he claims was his girlfriend, and was murdered on March 13 this year, at several times at prominent restaurants at Palolem and Colamb consumed drugs.

He said in the letter, which he wrote from the Colvale judicial lockup, that he along with his friends and girlfriend had smoked charas at a restaurant in Colomb and another restaurant in Palolem.

He further stated that the owner of the restaurant was seated next to them while they were smoking a joint inside the restaurant and had even served them free beers. 

These revelations indicate the open drug trade along the Canacona coast, that has the beaches of Colamb, Palolem, Agonda and Galjibaga, that are much sought by foreign tourists and party lovers, and raise suspicion of a police nexus with the dealers, as there are hardly any narcotics cases booked by the local Police. 

In the last three years Canacona Police have booked just five narcotics cases. As per records with the Canacona Police Station, they have booked two cases each in 2014 and 2015, while there is not a single case in 2016, and till date this year there has been just one case booked under the NDPS Act. 

Canacona MLA Isidore Fernandes has alleged that there is  free flow of drugs on Canacona beaches and at all night parties. “There are some outsiders who are the kingpins in the drug trade in Canacona who have big establishments on the coast. The higher police authorities have protected them so far,” he said. 

He said that appropriate action would be initiated to curb the drug trade at Canacona. “I will be going deep in this. I will personally investigate the trade with my workers and authorities will be given time to act upon our study,” Fernandes said.

Shantaji Gaonkar, an educationist and social activist, has alleged the role of local police officers in sheltering the drug traders in Canacona. He also mentioned the role of a person who has settled in Palolem for the last 15 years and is a kingpin in the Canacona drug trade.