PANJIM: In the run-up to the New Year Eve celebrations in Goa, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) seized a huge quantity of drugs at Dodamarg on the Goa-Maharashtra border on Tuesday night and arrested two people from Mangeli-Dodamarg.
The quantity of the drugs seized was not revealed till late Wednesday night but NCB expected a bigger haul, NCB SPO Jitendra Ranjan said.
According to NCB their personnel were tracking the route for four days and the operation was very crucial for the agency in view of the New Year Eve celebrations and EDMs scheduled in Goa.
“Two persons have been arrested. The seized drug is of a commercial quantity but we were not able to seize the expected quantity of drug. We were expecting a big quantity,” Ranjan, said.
EDMs in Goa have been embroiled in drug controversies and the matter has even reached the High Court. Based on a PIL, the High Court recently passed strict recommendations to curb the illicit business of narcotics at EDM venues.
According to the witnesses, NCB has arrested two people from Mangeli-Dodamarg. Sources said one of those arrested is a close relative of a prominent BJP leader of Dodamarg.
However, Anti-Narcotic Cell chief of Goa, SP Karthik Kashyap said there was no communication from NCB but the cell is taking precautions to curb drug smuggling in the State.
“We have been sharing information with neighbouring districts. We are continuously in touch with the border check posts and police stations with intelligence sharing,” Kashyap said.
He added that based on the HC direction there will be a strict vigil at both the EDM venues, eight special teams of Crime Branch, ANC and EOC have been formed to keep vigil over narcotic abuse at the venues.
