TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: A resolution adopted during a meeting of Keri-Sattari villagers to combat the drug menace in the area explains that illicit trade has spread its tentacles outside the coastal belt. The villagers decided to take strict action against the offenders and create awareness among people through door-to-door visits following reports that local youths are falling prey to it.
The anti narcotics Cell (ANC) have enhanced its intelligence gathering by. ANC Superintendent Kartik Kashyap said they held elaborate discussions in this connection and that ANC is examining the modus operandi strategies adopted by the perpetrators.
A preliminary inquiry revealed that drugs, especially Ganja are supposedly being sourced from the Maharashtra borders including Sindhudurg.
“We suspect the drugs are sourced from Maharashtra borders. Since we don’t have jurisdiction outside Goa, we have informed our counterparts in Maharashtra to assist us to crack down on such cases,” Kashyap said, when contacted by Herald.
Several routes are being used by the drug cartels to smuggle traditional as well as synthetic drugs to Goa. Bus stands, railway stations and airports are among other smuggling points are being regularly inspected especially because of the fast approaching tourist season. The officer said articles suspected to be carrying drugs to Goa are also being checked.
With youths, primarily students on the target list of the drug mafia, ANC is leaving no stone unturned to ensure they are not drawn into ‘drug trap’.
Shops, bar and restaurants and small outlets around the school and college premises are being closely watched by the ANC team, Kashyap siad. Last weekend, few such outlets were raided.
“Our major concern is youths because they are the most vulnerable,” the officer commented. Calangute MLA Michael Lobo has been alleging that drug addiction among local youth is on a rise with the law enforcing agencies failing to act against the drug lords.
In 2006, the ANC registered 25 cases, followed by 22 cases in year 2007, 20 cases in 2008, 24 cases in 2009, 17 cases in 2010, 15 cases in 2011, 13 in 2012 and 11 this year till date.
The amount from cocktail of drugs seized in the year 2011 has been Rs 52 lakh, Rs 27 lakh in 2012 and Rs 44 lakh this year till date.
