the goan I network
PANAJI
The Anti-Narcotic Cell of Goa Police in the wee hours of Wednesday succeeded in nabbing a big fish from the dark waters of the narcotics trade network of South Goa.
Accused Valy D’Costa (29) was intercepted by the ANC team at the entrance of Cortalim-Madka ferry ramp with 1.5 kgs of charas, over one kg of ganja total worth Rs five lakh, two mobile phones and cash of Rs 2,000.
Briefing the media, Superintendent of Police (ANC) Umesh Gaonkar said that the ANC has been trying to nab D’Costa for over two months. It was informed that D’Costa is a history sheeter and was previously involved in dacoities with his associate Michael Fernandes who is presently languishing in jail.
“We laid a trap and succeeded in catching D’Costa who came to deliver a consignment in a newly purchased Mahindra XUV vehicle worth Rs 20 lakhs,” SP Gaonkar stated.
Following interrogation, D’Costa revealed that he served a sentence for the offence of dacoity. Since his release three years ago, he has been dealing in drugs.
SP Gaonkar said that D’Costa is a big fish and that he had built a sizeable network in South Goa.
“He has purchased two buses which are plying on the Margao-Curchorem route. He has been buying drugs in kilos from neighbouring states and nobody has dared raise an alarm out of fear,” SP Gaonkar said.
Police investigation has also revealed that D’Costa owns a house in Tilamoll, Quepem where he lives with his mother and that several drug users visit him there to buy narcotics. “We were working on this for over two months and have succeeded in catching him red-handed. He is being interrogated thoroughly,” SP Gaonkar said.
It was also informed that the ANC will look into accused D’Costa’s financial records in order to verify the source of his income, assets and properties.
SP Gaonkar explained that the police hope to seek out other active members of South Goa’s narcotics trade through D’Costa.
