Addressing a press conference in Ponda,GPCC Organising Secretary Durgadas Kamat and Marcaim Congress Block Committee President Sandeep Naik claimed that this task force was necessary, given the police-peddler nexus admitted to by a government-appointed committee.
“Though CM Laxmikant Parsekar has alleged that tourists are involved in drug consumption, Goan youth are also engaged in the drugs trade. In 2013-14, a total of 62 locals and 23 foreigners have been arrested and this shows that more Goans are involved in drug trade than tourists,” said Kamat.
“In order to root out the drug trade and to protect Goan youth, the State government should initiate action on the House Committee report and make it public, as the amount spent to prepare the report is the hard-earned money of the tax payers,” he added.
“The State government must also set up an Anti-Narcotics Task Force in Goa within a month. This team should comprise Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officials, Enforcement Directorate, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Custom and Central Excise as well as non-corrupt and honest officials from Goa Police.”
“This task force will help stop the growing network of politicians, police-peddler nexus in Goa, while also keeping a watch on EDM festivals along the coastal belt of the State. We need strong will power to make Goa drug free by 2016,” Kamat added.
He alleged that the dru trade has been thriving along the North Goa coastal belt.
“The Anti-Narcotics Cell of Goa Police has seized drugs worth Rs 50 lakh (2012), drugs worth 3.2 crore (2013), while drugs worth Rs 2.16 crore have been seized from January to August this year.”
“In the last three years, almost 158 cases have been registered and this amounts to almost one case being booked per week,” said Kamat.
