PANJIM: Three days after Herald exposed the drug den at Umtavaddo, Calangute Police swung into action and arrested the Russian lady living in the house, albeit for overstaying. According to Calangute Police the Russian lady, Mitina Yulia Svetlav, was overstaying in Umtawado, Calangute, without any passport/travel documents and without a valid visa.
During verification, it was revealed that the lady was staying with one person namely Austin D’souza at his residence without any documents, police inspector Jivba Dalvi said.
The lady has been placed in custody under various provisions of passport entry into India Act, passport rules and Foreigners Act. Police have also informed the concerned embassy. She is currently remanded to judicial custody by JMFC Mapusa. PSI Sitaram Malik is investigating the case.
Herald in its edition dated August 18 2017 had exposed how drugs were being sold 24×7 causing inconvenience to surrounding inhabitants.
During a recce of the place Herald found that the D’Souza family home, close to the beach, almost functions as a supermarket of drugs.
While police claimed no evidence has been found of possession of drugs there, when Herald arrived there, after being tipped off by neighbours and locals,
syringes, and empty packets, the kind used to package drugs were found in the vicinity of the house.
Almost entire family wiped off
Interestingly, two of the family members – Avil D’Souza and his wife – are in jail for illicit narcotics trade.
Despite, the D’Souza couple being arrested locals claim the business is running as his son Austin, himself a drug addict, and his wife Svetlav.
Now with Russian also arrested only Avil and their small daughter remains in the house. Locals say Avil is in critical condition due to his addiction and wondered what would happen of the little one.
Neighbours also said it was becoming scary with the illegal business of drugs on 24×7, probably worse than before when the parents were involved.
Drugs info but no evidence
Calangute Police Inspector Jivba Dalvi told Herald they have information that drugs are available at this place in Calangute but whenever random checking has been conducted they haven’t found any evidence.
“We keep surveillance there as we know for sure something is going on but we can act only if we get evidence,” he explained.
He said that no drugs were found with the Russian lady but police are investigating. “During random checking we found she was staying without a valid visa,” Dalvi said.
