PANJIM: In the biggest ever narcotic seizure of recent times, the Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) of Goa Police have arrested a Russian national for allegedly possessing illegal drugs worth Rs 1.70 crore at Arambol.
According to the police, the accused Evgeny Morkovin (33) was arrested after he was found in the possession of 218 gms of psilocybin mushrooms, 7.9 kg of mushroom buds, 2 kg of ganja and 150 psilocybin mushroom spores (seeds), all worth Rs 1,69,47,000 in the international market.
While working on intelligence inputs, the ANC unit learnt that a Russian national was involved in narcotic trade especially in supplying psilocybin mushrooms more popularly known as ”Magic Mushrooms”. The information was further developed and the target was placed under continuous surveillance. His movements were also closely monitored. Post confirmation, the ANC staff raided the rented premises of the accused at Madhlawada, Arambol.
During the search, the police seized commercial quantity of psilocybin mushrooms worth Rs 8.72 lakh and 2 kg of ganja worth Rs 2 lakh.
It was during the course of the raid that the ANC discovered that the said the accused was not only selling the banned narcotics but had also planted psilocybin mushroom buds in numerous glass jars for growing the contraband that weighed about 7.93 kg worth Rs 1.58 crore.
The ANC personnel seized around 150 mushroom spores (seeds) which the accused had procured to plant and grow more of the contraband.
Besides, the police also seized the equipments such as syringes, glass jars, specially fabricated plastic containers and other articles which the accused used to grow the psychedelic mushrooms.
The raid was conducted and led by PSI Sunil Falkar of ANC unit assisted by constables Nitesh Mulgaonkar, Laxman Mhamal, Sandesh Volvoikar, Mandar Naik, Makarand Ghadi, Lady constable Velsia and driver Kundan Patekar under the supervision of PI, ANC, Sajith Pillai under the overall leadership and guidance of DYSP (ANC) Nerlon Albuquerque and SP (ANC) Bossuet Silva.
The case is under further investigation by PSI Manjunath Naik of the Anti-Narcotics Cell. Meanwhile, DGP Goa has announced a suitable reward for the team.
